The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees will soon consider approving a supplemental longevity pay program for all eligible employees.
If approved by the board of trustees during its upcoming Sept. 19 meeting, the program would provide one-time supplemental payments worth $13.2 million in the first year, according to agenda documents.
However, the funding would be contingent upon a majority of registered voters approving an upcoming tax rate election slated for the ballot on Nov. 8, according to the district’s resolution. The board of trustees gave the go-ahead for that tax rate election on Aug. 22, adopting a tax rate of $1.2101 per $100 of assessed property value for fiscal year 2022-23, which is the same rate as last year. While the average resident would face a $208 increase on their annual property tax bill, FBISD would start to earn an additional $47.7 million in annual revenue beginning in FY 2022-23.
The additional revenue from an approved tax rate increase would be used to help fund the longevity pay program, district officials said.
In the first year, the program would provide $500 for employees who have completed between zero to four years and $1,000 for employees who have completed 5-9 years of service, up to $5,500 for employees with 50 years of service.
The second year and beyond would pay out about $100 per year of service to employees who reach milestones of five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years, and beyond.
If approved by the board of trustees and if the tax rate election were approved, the payment would be included in employees’ Nov. 30 paycheck, according to agenda documents.
“It’s not necessarily a $500 [increase], because if you have been teaching for zero to four years, it’s the $500 raise plus the $500 supplement,” Position 3 Trustee Rick Garcia said during a Sept. 12 agenda review session.
Garcia was referencing $14.7 million in base pay increases the board of trustees approved on May 16 for teaching and nonteaching staff. Starting this school year, the district increased starting teacher pay by $1,000, from $58,500 to $59,500, in addition to giving teachers a $500 step for increasing their years of experience by one year.
The first year of the program would be paid for through FBISD’s remaining Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. At about $2 million in the second year, and beyond, the program would be paid for through the district’s general fund, supported through the tax rate election.
