The Godley ISD Board of Trustees adopted a balanced general operating budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year during a special meeting on June 24, 2026, approving a financial plan that prioritizes students, employees and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

The adopted operating budget totals $43.2 million. District officials noted that many Texas school districts are relying on fund balance to balance their operating budgets because of ongoing funding challenges, making Godley ISD one of the relatively few districts able to adopt a balanced operating budget without relying on fund balance.

The adopted budget also supports a proposed fifth consecutive reduction in the district's tax rate. Based on current estimates, the proposed maintenance and operations tax rate would decrease from $0.7850 to $0.7845 per $100 of taxable value, while the interest and sinking tax rate would remain at $0.50. The proposed rate reflects a voluntary tax rate reduction below the maximum rate allowed under state law.

Payroll and benefits account for approximately $33.7 million, or about 78 percent of operating budget expenditures, reflecting the district's continued investment in employees. The budget includes annual step increases for eligible employees, representing an investment of approximately $600,000.

Most of the increase in the operating budget is related to payroll and staffing investments that help the district recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff. The budget also includes approximately $400,000 in additional funding for services provided through the Johnson County Special Services Association (JCSSA). Non-payroll expenditures remain essentially flat despite inflationary pressures, reflecting continued efforts to maximize district resources through efficient budget management, improved purchasing practices and cooperative purchasing programs.

The budget also reflects conservative planning for operational expenses, with utility and insurance costs remaining relatively stable based on updated cost projections and recent spending trends.

The child nutrition fund includes a planned use of approximately $143,400 of fund balance. District officials noted that school nutrition programs are generally expected to use fund balance as needed because state guidelines limit the amount of reserves those programs may maintain. Meanwhile, the debt service fund is projected to increase its fund balance by approximately $373,700, largely due to the receipt of delinquent property tax collections.

The budget development process included public workshops on May 18 and June 8, followed by a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate on June 17 before adoption of the budget. Trustees are expected to consider the 2026-27 tax rate later this summer after certified property values are received from local appraisal districts.

Additional information about the district's budget is available at www.godleyisd.net/budget.