What happened: Midland ISD rolled out its proposed 2025–2026 budget and tax rate. Trustees must approve the budget in June, but the final tax rate won’t be set until September, after the state releases updated compression rate guidance.

Why it matters: The $508 million budget projects an $8 million deficit, down from last year’s $42 million deficit. The district expects $12 million more in revenue and $22.5 million less in spending than last year’s proposed budget. However, actual 2024–2025 spending totaled $624 million, $93 million more than what was budgeted.

Removing debt payments, the proposed budget would spend about 10% less than last year’s actual spending.

Key points:

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  • Budget overview: MISD proposes $508 million in spending with $500 million in revenue. Compared to last year’s actual spending, instruction, mostly teacher pay, would rise by $4.6 million. Most other areas would see cuts.

    • Debt payments: down $70.4 million

    • Robin Hood payments: down $25 million

    • Maintenance and operations: down $5.6 million

    • Food services: down $5.4 million

    • Guidance and counseling: down $3 million

    • Plus cuts across administration, campus leadership, curriculum, transportation, and staff training.

  • Tax rate: The Midland County Appraisal District reports that property values rose an average of 4.68%. A home valued at $350,000 last year now averages $366,380. At the proposed rate, this home would pay about $128 more in taxes than last year, after factoring in higher property values and homestead exemptions (not including 65+ or disabled exemptions).

  • Bond debt:  $847.6 million.