Fort Bend ISD The board of trustees approved a $580.4 million general operating budget for the 2015-16 academic year and maintained the district’s overall tax rate at its June 15 meeting.

“Fort Bend ISD’s 2015-16 budget is indicative of sound financial management and prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” FBISD Chief Financial Officer Steven Bassett said.

The adopted budget reflects a 3.75 percent increase from the 2014-15 budget, which district officials said is due to increases in compensation and staffing. The budget accounted for additional staffing needed for anticipated student growth, a class size ratio of 22-to-1 for kindergarten through fourth grade and more staff to reduce class sizes at the secondary level.

All teachers in the district will receive an average salary increase of 2.1 percent while other district employees will receive a raise of 2 percent of the midpoint.

The board also maintained the district’s tax rate of $1.34 per $100 valuation, which includes a debt service tax rate of 30 cents and a maintenance and operations tax rate of $1.04.

“Our overall tax rate is much lower than most of our peer districts,” Bassett said. “By effectively managing our debt and being fiscally conservative, our district has put itself in a position to balance student and employee needs, and taxpayer concerns while we prepare for the future.”