The Leander ISD Board of Trustees formally adopted a 2019–20 budget with significant compensation raises for teachers and staff as well as tax relief.
The general operating budget is more than a 6% increase from the 2018–19 budget. Major factors for the increase include the need for additional personnel due to the projected enrollment growth and the opening of Larkspur Elementary School, as well as the pay increases to teacher and employee salaries and employer contribution to cover healthcare premiums.
“This budget reflects our commitment to our two most important resources: teachers and students,” said Board President Trish Bode. “Investing in both of them while doing what we can to offer relief to taxpayers is a testament to the administration and board’s hard work .”
LISD already grants $10,000 tax exemptions to disabled individuals and individuals age 65 or older. Trustees approved an additional $3,000 tax exemption for both of these groups. This action comes in addition to relief granted by the state with House Bill 3, which requires all districts to compress their tier one tax rate.
In calculating the tax rate for Leander ISD, the operating budget is based on the maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate of $0.97, down from $1.04. For the second consecutive year, the Board adopted a quarter-penny reduction to the interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate, setting the rate at $0.4675.
