Board proposes tax rate, date for public budget hearing

After receiving a presentation on the final proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees voted during its Aug. 10 meeting to publish a tax rate of 0.9342 per $100 valuation.

The rate is comprised of 0.7552 for Maintenance and Operations (M&O) and 0.1790 for Interest & Sinking (I&S); is 0.10 cents lower than 2025-26; and will be finalized after a public hearing is held Aug. 24. 

Chief Financial Officer Patricia Melendez outlined the proposed general operating fund budget, stating the district “maintained its conservativeness” in presenting a balanced budget to the board. She added the I&S has remained stable throughout the past few years due to the district’s commitment to paying down debt. 

Expected revenues are slated to be $100,999.462 while expenditures are proposed to be $100,996,253. 

Though the district’s student enrollment and ADA numbers remained static at 8,153 and 7,494.14, respectively, taxable property values increased by 2.28 percent, totaling about $8.4 million. 

Melendez said the highest portion of expenditures is the district’s payroll at 82 percent and included in the number is a 2.5 percent pay increase for all teachers and employees approved at the board’s June 8 meeting.

Total cost for the measure was estimated at $1.67 million. 

In addition to the general fund, Melendez also showed the Child Nutrition Fund and the Debt Service Fund, each of which are separately funded. 

Now that the rate has been decided, the next steps in the budget approval process include the Aug. 24 public hearing and adoption of the proposed budgets and tax rate if the board approves. 

Also at the meeting:

• The Weatherford FFA team and its sponsors were recognized for their many accomplishments at the Texas state championships. Ten students will now compete at the national competition in Indianapolis in October.
• Delegated authority to the superintendent to enter into an agreement for the purchase of attendance credits per the Texas Education Code. Under TEC 48.257 and 49.004, school districts are notified when their estimated local yield per penny per student in WADA exceeds the Tier Two guaranteed yield of $49.72. School districts are required to reduce their excess local revenue level by one or more statutory options. WISD chose to exercise the purchase of average daily attendance credit as provided by Subchapter D.