Athletics stipends, additional staff included in Friendswood ISD FY 2026-27 budget

Friendswood ISD's proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget includes nearly $2.4 million in additional salary costs and about $95,000 in additional stipends compared to FY 2025-26, according to budget documents.

As part of the district's ongoing budget planning process, the board of trustees approved athletics and instructional coach stipends, as well as additional personnel positions, at its June 8 meeting.

The overview

For FY 2026-27, the district is projecting nearly $70.1 million in revenues and around $70 million in expenses, according to budget documents.

The proposed budget includes an operating surplus of about $80,000 after accounting for additional personnel, salary increases and stipends.

What residents need to know

The district is also projecting a tax rate of $1.0124 for FY 2026-27. The rate combines $0.7693 for maintenance and operations, or M&O, which pays for daily operations, and $0.2431 for interest and sinking, or I&S, which pays bond debt, according to budget documents.

Based on that rate, a homeowner with a median homestead taxable value of $424,611 would have an estimated annual property tax bill of about $4,300, budget documents show.

What's new

In addition to the $52,500 in stipends previously approved for special education staff, trustees approved two stipends, including:

• Nearly $45,000 for athletics
• Nearly $17,000 for elementary and intermediate instructional coaches

Also of note

Trustees previously approved nearly 15 additional positions across the district in both teaching and non-teaching roles, including core subject areas, paraprofessional support and special education services.

At the meeting, trustees approved two additional positions, including:

• Super substitute at Friendswood Junior High
• Utility and energy specialist

Stay tuned

District officials will continue updating budget projections as attendance figures are finalized ahead of FY 2026-27 budget adoption, FISD Chief Financial Officer Amber Petree said at the meeting.