The Conroe ISD's fiscal year 2014–15 budget includes $10.2 million in raises for the district's teachers and staff. The budget also sets aside $22.1 million to fund district operations next year.
Last year, a new hire in the district with no previous experience earned a salary of $48,700. This year, with the approved 3.5 percent average pay increase, a first-year teacher will earn a base salary of $49,140.
According to the district's hiring schedule, the pay increase would be $1,840 over last year's salaries for all new teachers, no matter their experience level.
"We use a service through the Texas Association of School Boards that looks at wages and helps to guide us to remain competitive," CISD Superintendent Don Stockton said.
Non-professionals will receive a 4 percent average salary increase.
The budget, approved by the CISD board of trustees Aug. 19, includes $417.2 million in revenue for the district and the $395.1 million in expenses, which includes the increase in salaries.
The district projects that 56,114 children will be enrolled in CISD this year, about 1,100 more than last school year.
The payroll costs, including those needed for increased enrollment, add up to $350.3 million.
CISD was also able to shave half a cent off of the district's property tax rate, taking it from $1.285 per $100 of taxable valuation last year to $1.28 for Fiscal year 2014–15.
"That's the third year in a row that we've been able to reduce our tax rate," Stockton said.
The district's property values went from about $1.9 billion in 2013 to about $3.02 billion in 2014.
"This year the appraised value inside CISD went up pretty dramatically, so it's caused an increase in revenue," Stockton said. "We're going to [save] that $22 million because with school funding there's a one-year lag in the appraised value effect. So for instance, next year if the appraised value is not that high, the funding is reduced by that amount."
CISD tries to be proactive by preparing for future years that might have a leaner budget, Stockton said.
"We have always been very cautious and tried to plan ahead," he said. "So when we've been in positions to [budget a surplus], we've done this. We never want to be in a position where we don't have the needed funds."
The district had four objectives for the budget: provide for the needs during the current school year, give district employees a salary increase, decrease the property tax rate and save money for the upcoming school year, Stockton said.
"I do think those four [objectives] are really important: that we're meeting the needs, current needs, and meeting the future needs also," Stockton said. "We should be in very strong financial standing."
