Increase in costs: Houston ISD is spending millions to pay for academic reforms, including more staff, higher salaries and new equipment. At half of the district’s schools, HISD spent an extra $700,000 per campus and about $2,200 more per student.  view article

The operating budget for FY 2026-27 is $3.33 billion, an increase of 10.81%, according to a news release. Several programs slated for reduction or cuts were restored following guidance from City Council in past meetings. Those include the Alliance PetSmart Charities Adoption Center at 2901 Texas Sage Trail, restored employee positions to avoid service-level issues and employee pay-for-performance increases in the 4%-4.5% range, which will be paid in April 2027.  The total cost to restore those services and positions was $4.09 million, according to the news release.  The cuts were made as the city faced a $94 million shortfall in revenues compared to expenditures in part due to lower-than-expected tax rolls, according to previous reporting. view article

The high price tag, coupled with less state funding from students leaving the district, raises questions about whether the academic improvements are sustainable in the long run and whether other districts can afford to replicate it. view article

Railroad Commission Approves ExxonMobil’s Carbon Capture Permit  "If carbon capture is a good investment, Exxon has the financial resources to make that investment. The question is, why should taxpayers subsidize it, especially when Exxon itself acknowledges in its SEC disclosures that government policy is important to the economics of its low-carbon business?" — Jason Isaac view article

School districts currently collect about $29 billion annually in M&O taxes, according to the Texas Education Agency. view article

On the Friday before Labor Day weekend, Veronica Reyes asked a group of attentive students at Silva Magnet High School in South El Paso to describe the three branches of government. It had been at least 14 years since Reyes, who is the assistant superintendent of specialized learning services at the El Paso Independent School District, last worked as a teacher. view article

Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has requested legislators double the money behind the state’s private school voucher program to $2 billion. More than 100,000 students sit on the waitlist, but critics argue there is little evidence vouchers are delivering on their promises to justify expanding the program. view article

An El Paso ISD audit found serious financial and oversight problems in the Andress High School band program, including allegations that district purchasing rules were bypassed and that the school’s principal did not provide sufficient oversight. According to the audit, former band director Manuel Talamantes went against district policy by using personal credit cards to front between $20,000 and $25,000 for band expenses and equipment. Talamantes told investigators he did so because the band did not have enough money at the time he needed to order equipment. view article

The Coahoma ISD school board has called a special meeting in response to formal complaints by community members. view article

An El Paso ISD audit found serious financial and oversight problems in the Andress High School band program, including allegations that district purchasing rules were bypassed and that the school’s principal did not provide sufficient oversight. According to the audit, former band director Manuel Talamantes went against district policy by using personal credit cards to front between $20,000 and $25,000 for band expenses and equipment. Talamantes told investigators he did so because the band did not have enough money at the time he needed to order equipment. view article

The comptroller says his office is expanding its focus on government fraud as auditors prepare to investigate four Texas school districts.  Texas Comptroller Don Huffines says school officials could face prosecution if upcoming state audits uncover fraudulent spending.  Huffines made the comments during an interview on Texas Scorecard’s Real Texans, as his office prepares to investigate the spending practices of four yet-to-be-named school districts.  “If we find nefarious spending, I will do everything I can to prosecute,” said Huffines.  Huffines noted that the comptroller’s office has its own police force and said he has hired a new chief for the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division. He is also looking to expand the division specifically to assist with government fraud investigations.  “Historically, the state of Texas has not really focused on that very much, and most governments haven’t,” said Huffines, arguing that Texas has a “massive fraud problem.” view article

The 2026-27 fiscal year tax rate is 82.86 cents per $100 evaluation, down from 82.92 cents last year. The rate includes 75.52 cents to maintain daily operations and 7.34 cents for debt payments.  Although the rate was lowered by a cent, the district expects to collect about 3.5% more property tax revenue after property values increased. Hudson ISD’s taxable value grew by about $20.7 million, or 3.17%  For a median-valued homestead worth $219,620, the district estimates the annual tax bill will be about $660 after the state’s $140,000 homestead exemption. That translates to $16 more than the estimated bill on a median-valued home last year. view article

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Homeowners in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District could see a higher tax bill if voters approve a proposed tax rate increase in November. The SCUCISD Board of Trustees voted to put the tax rate proposition before voters, saying the additional revenue is needed to support teachers and student programs. view article

Georgetown ISD superintendent Dr. Devin Padavil welcomed students back to the classroom Wednesday, several days after board leaders approved a tax rate election. view article

Homeowners in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District could see a higher tax bill if voters approve a proposed tax rate increase in November. The SCUCISD Board of Trustees voted to put the tax rate proposition before voters, saying the additional revenue is needed to support teachers and student programs. view article

The Longview ISD board of trustees voted 5-0 to approve a waiver application that would allow the district to change how it splits state pre-K funding with partner childcare provider Rising Star Daycares. Under House Bill 2, at least 85% of state pre-K funding must go directly to a partner daycare — unless the state approves a waiver allowing a different arrangement. Longview ISD previously operated under a 50/50 split with Rising Star Daycares. The district is now seeking a 65/35 split, with 65% going to the daycare and 35% to the district. view article

All but three of San Antonio’s public school districts will likely be operating in the red again this school year.  According to a review of financial reports and public discussions for a dozen school districts this summer, the vast majority are cutting expenses left and right for the 2026-27 school year. Administrators say budget cuts are tied to Texas putting more constraints on how districts can use state funds and collect local property taxes.  view article

After the Georgetown Independent School District board of trustees approved a balanced budget last month for the 2026-2027 school year, the district is now weighing how to raise funds for increased teacher view article

A West Texas school district is considering suing the state over how it calculates a part of public-school funding. The Midland Independent School District Board of Trustees is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to move forward with filing a lawsuit against the state of Texas over the state’s public school finance system. The lawsuit, if filed, will argue the state’s mandatory school property-tax rate and recapture system is not constitutional. view article

The Tyler Independent School District school board voted Monday to approve a new compensation package for the 2026-2027 school year covering teachers, staff, police officers, coaches, and support employees. view article

Following approvals for employee raises, stipends and benefit increases, Friendswood ISD officials are projecting a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026-27, according to an update presented at the July 13 board meeting. view article

Two Grimes County school boards will vote Tuesday night on a tax incentive deal tied to SpaceX’s proposed Terafab facility — a decision that could determine whether one of the largest industrial projects in American history gets built in Texas. Both Anderson-Shiro CISD and Iola ISD held public meetings last week on the Terafab project, where residents raised concerns over light and noise pollution, water use and infrastructure. view article

As families prepare to enter a new school year, El Paso Independent School District is reminding parents and students that an attendance requirement will be enforced at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, warning that the policy could impact students' course credit or final grade. view article

Stephen F. Austin State University will phase out its Early Childhood Laboratory over the next few years because the program has become too expensive to maintain.  Stephen F. Austin University opened the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, also known as the child care lab, in 1975. The program accepts children from 8 weeks to 5 years old. The center, which has five classrooms, focuses its curriculum on autonomy, integrity, openness, problem solving and academics, according to the center’s website.  The center, which is open to the public, is funded through fees paid by parents who use the center for child care, but it wasn’t enough to sustain operations. Over the last five years, the university has paid an additional $750,000 — a little over $100,000 annually — to make ends meet, according to a statement by the university. And as universities like SFA tighten their belts to cope with increasing inflation costs, they’re looking for places to trim spending. view article

The district’s $887 million budget, approved by the Board of Trustees, includes cuts to Austin ISD police as part of a broader effort to address budget challenges. view article

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The McAllen ISD school board voted to adopt a $287.9 million 2026-2027 budget and a compensation plan that includes pay increases for teachers and district staff at a meeting on June 23. A detailed report of the 2026-2027 district budget and the proposed 2026 tax rate was presented to the board and the public by the Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Lorena Garcia. view article

New student loan rules went into effect Wednesday, from new repayment plans to caps on professional and parent loans.   Many of the changes stem from the Trump administration's budget overhaul, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. They also come as the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan ends. A federal appeals court ruled to eliminate the cost-cutting, income-driven plan after its constitutionality was challenged.  view article

Hard choices allowed Midway Independent School District to pass a budget that narrows its deficit by nearly $1 million while giving employees a 2% raise. The Midway ISD board on June 16 passed a $98.2 million budget that includes $2 million for pay raises for teachers and other staff. view article

Hutto Independent School District trustees have approved a $134.5 million balanced budget, the first in six years. School board members also expressed relief the district avoided a deficit budget, which has been running at $3.5 million to $4.5 million for the last few years, and the same was expected with this cycle. However, through extensive budget cuts and hikes in commercial and multifamily property tax revenue, Hutto ISD was able to cover the shortfall, officials said during the June 25 school board meeting. view article

Not an hour before being named the interim superintendent for the Thrall Independent School District, Blake Schneider presented a balanced 2026-27 budget to trustees who unanimously adopted it. Schneider made the presentation while still in his role as chief financial officer. A daycare for the children of district staffers also met with the school board’s approval. view article

EISD's new Chief Financial Officer Pete Pape provided three budget scenarios tied to possible compensation plans: Option 1: no compensation increase, resulting in a projected budget surplus of $1,579,858 Option 2: a one-time payment of $700 for eligible employees, resulting in a projected budget surplus of $855,858 Option 3: a 2% compensation increase, resulting in a projected budget shortfall of $54,297 view article

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin ISD is rolling out major transportation changes beginning in August as part of the district’s newly approved 2026–27 budget, which includes over $200 million in cuts.  The district said maintaining the bus system has become much more expensive due to rising fuel costs. State funding has not kept pace, which is why the adjustments are necessary, according to AISD.  “We know these adjustments will require our families to modify morning and afternoon routines, and we recognize the stress and anxiety this causes,” AISD said in a message to families.  Right now, AISD only gets $1 in state funding for every $7.22 it spends per mile, the district said. view article

Killeen, Tx (FOX44) – Facing challenges including losses in some federal Impact Aid, rising operating cost and declining enrollment trends, KISD trustees have begun the budget process.Chief Financial Officer Kallen Vaden Tuesday night provided trustees with an overview of the budget development process and the financial factors shaping the proposed 2026-2027 budget. Budget planning began earlier this year and is based on student enrollment projections, staffing needs, projected revenues and anticipated expenditures.   District leaders reviewed several challenges affecting school finance in Killeen ISD and across Texas, including declining enrollment trends, rising operational costs and continued reductions in federal funding sources. KISD is projected to lose approximately $31 million in federal Impact Aid funding over the next five years while continuing to absorb increased costs associated with transportation, insurance, utilities, special education services and facility maintenance.  view article