Godley ISD school board trustees held a workshop on the 2025-26 budget on May 20, 2025, at Godley High School.

Chief Financial Officer Spencer Davis led the board through the budget development process, including budget priorities, enrollment and attendance data, property values and tax rates, proposed budgets, campus allocations determined on a per-student basis.  The budget is being considered earlier this year because of a change in the fiscal year, which will now begin in July and end in June.

Budget priorities are:

• Ensure current staff positions are secure through proposing a balanced budget
• Continue to invest in the safety and security of the district, including technology protections
• Increase pay across the entire staff while protecting the existing and future fund balance

Davis reviewed enrollment data for the past two school years as well as the district enrollment count for the current year, which is currently 3,154 students.  Student enrollment is expected to climb to 3,367 students in the 2025-26 school year.  The CFO also reported current and historical campus enrollment as well as estimated attendance percentages.

The proposed tax rate of $1.2722 per $100 of property valuation includes a slight decrease in the district’s maintenance and operation tax rate from $0.7869 to $0.7722 due to mandatory tax rate compression.  The interest and sinking tax rate for debt service would remain at $0.50.  Davis also reviewed tax collection estimates.

Davis presented the proposed budget, with the addition of 13 full-time employees should additional funding from state appropriations be available.  Also included is a step increase for all employees, making payroll total 85.67% of the budget.  Fixed costs for maintenance, utilities and insurance plus the special education cooperative, technology and cybersecurity are increased.  Davis reviewed instructional costs and allocations for campuses and programs.

Along with breakdowns of the overall proposed budget, Davis reviewed a public meeting notice to discuss the budget and proposed tax rate during the regular monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, Jun.16.

The proposed budget is available on the district website at www.godleyisd.net/budget.

School trustees will hold a second budget workshop on Monday, Jun. 9 at Godley 6th Grade Campus.