Fort Bend ISD’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget is now expected to see a $32.8 million shortfall, district officials said at a June 8 agenda review meeting.
The figure is a little over $3 million improvement compared to the $35.9 million projection shared at the May 4 agenda review meeting.
The overview
Staff recommended the board adopt the budget as presented because it allows the district to operate at the start of the fiscal year, meet the 90-day operating reserve requirement and gives the district time to track current unknowns.
Executive Director of Finance Kelly Schlacks said the projected ending fund balance for FY 2026-27 is at the required 90-day threshold when $1.7 million in teacher compensation and $7.2 million in land sales were folded into the budget.
Since May 11, the district has completed a debt sale and updated the debt service fund budget to include final debt maturities, which will help improve the 2026-27 budget end balance to $50.6 million, a $2.5 million increase from May, Schlacks said.
The debt service fund is based on a tax rate increase of 1 cent from 27 cents to 28 cents, which board President Kristin Tassin said was already voted on by residents during the 2023 bond election.
In regards to the child nutrition fund, Schlacks said no meal price changes are to be made, but there will be price revisions for à la carte snack items.
Diving in deeper
Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Operations Kathleen Brown said upcoming budget amendments for additional teacher compensation adjustments beyond bus drivers and monitors will be paid for by future land sales.
Additionally, Brown said the district does not plan to make any changes to the employee health benefit premiums for the 2026-27 school year after hearing committee recommendations, although staff will continue to look at potential health benefit changes for the 2027-28 school year.
Also of note
Schlacks said FBISD will continue to evaluate 2025-26 year-end actuals, study enrollment for 2026-27 and compare those figures to what was budgeted and review 2026-27 projected revenues and expenditures.
Next steps
A public hearing on the budget and tax rate is scheduled before the board’s regularly scheduled meeting June 15.
In July, FBISD will receive the certified tax roll from the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District and the maximum compressed rate from the Texas Education Agency before the tax rate is voted on in September.
