Brownwood Independent School District’s board of trustees unanimously adopted the 2016-2017 BISD budget and tax rate during a special meeting on Monday.

Board members gathered at 12:15 p.m. in the Dr. Don Martin Executive Board Room of the Brownwood ISD Administration building to consider approval of action items that included budget amendments, the 2016-2017 district budget, tax rate for maintenance and operations, tax rate for interest and sinking for the 2016-2017 school year.

All items on the agenda were unanimously approved including a total tax rate which will continue at $1.2151/$100 valuation which is the same as the previous year and includes the sinking tax rate of $0.1751 (which is the same as the past year) and the maintenance and operations tax rate of $1.04 (which has not increased since 2007).

The new budget includes pay raises and stipends proposed by BISD Administration. The approved raises include a 2.5% general pay increase on the midpoint with targeted adjustments for identified areas. Existing teachers will receive a salary increase of $1,145 or more next year.  Existing Brownwood ISD paraprofessionals will see a 2.5% increase in addition to the step on the current salary schedule. For most positions, this equates to a 3.5%-4% raise over current wages. BISD also continues to fully fund employee-only health insurance for all employees.

A retainer fee for the district’s attorney was also approved.  This retainer is paid annually so that the board members can call for legal advice throughout the year without being billed per phone call, according to BISD Superintendent Joe Young.

“Due to the District’s strong financial standing, we are excited to be able to provide our most important resource, the teachers and paraprofessionals who work with our kids on a daily basis, a healthy raise while proposing a balanced budget with no tax increase.” said Dr. Young during the previous board meeting on August 26th when the budget and tax rate were proposed.