Proposed revenue for district increases by $6 million
Taylor Independent School District trustees this past week agreed on the system’s budget for the 202627 school year and voted in favor of pay increases and retention stipends for teachers and staff.
Chief Financial Officer Jina Self provided information on both topics during her financial report to the trustees earlier in the June 22 meeting. Self presented two options for Taylor ISD employees and trustee Marilyn Tennill encouraged fellow board members to choose the more expensive package.
“It’s a difference of $200,000,” Tennill said.
Trustees agreed and approved the higher incentive package.
Taylor ISD teachers and administrative staff will now receive 2% raises, auxiliary employees will receive an increase of $1.50 per hour and clerical staff and paraprofessionals will earn $1
more per hour. Eligible employees returning to the district for the new school year will receive a $2,500 onetime stipend.
All eligible employees will also receive a retention stipend of $500 paid in January.
Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen thanked the trustees for always putting the teachers, staff and students first in their considerations.
“We’re doing a lot of sign-on bonuses for new teams…and we really want to make sure that our current employees feel recognized,” Garcia-Edwardsen said.
BUDGET TALKS
Meanwhile, Self presented the 2026-27 budget to trustees.
The 2026-27 general fund proposed expenditures, which include items such as curriculum, health and social services, food service and maintenance, increased from the 2025-26 budget by just under $400,000.
However, the proposed revenue for the upcoming school year is more than $6 million more than last year.
Trustees will adopt a tax rate after it receives certified taxable values from Williamson Central Appraisal District, which will be by July 25.
“(The Texas Education Agency) will use those certified values as a basis for calculating the maximum compressed tax rate and release the results to the district in August,” Self said.
Self presented a slide presentation showing the overall drop in the district’s tax rates over the last 10 years, projecting the 2026-27 maintenance and operations and debt services tax rates to remain around the same as last year’s at about 74 cents and 32 cents per $100 valuation, respectively.
Taylor ISD is also waiting for its 2025-26 financial audit to be completed. Trustees have until Sep. 30 to adopt a tax rate.
The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. July 20 in the Taylor ISD boardroom at 3101 N. Main St.
