Round Rock trustees on Tuesday night unanimously approved the district’s budget for the 2025–26 school year, including the compensation increases for all staff that the board approved June 10.
The budget as passed shows the district facing an $11 million deficit. However, it is not finalized as districts throughout the state wait for information from the Texas Education Agency on the effects of legislation signed into law earlier this month.
“The budget will be balanced come August, but will reflect an $11 million deficit today as we’re awaiting guidance from TEA,” said CFO and COO Dennis Covington. “As of today, we are projecting a small surplus of $97,000 in August after we get HB2 guidance.”
A technical requirement for school districts is that they submit budgets and allocate funds by specific codes. The provisions of House Bill 2 haven’t been paired to specific codes by TEA yet.
Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said the administration will propose a budget amendment in August after districts receive that TEA guidance.
“The team worked really hard to get to that balanced budget in August,” he said. “And I’m proud to say that we did not cut any programs or staff to reach that balance.”
Among other details included in the budget:
– No price increase for school meals.
– No change in the district’s tax rate.
Because the compensation plan had to be approved ahead of the budget, all pay increases have already been put into the system. Employees who start in July will see that increase in their July paycheck. Teachers will see those reflected in their September paycheck.
