**Tyler ISD Board Approves 2024-2025 Budget with Lower Tax Rate and Key Investments**
**TYLER, TX –** The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees officially adopted its $236,794,992 operating budget for the 2024-2025 school year during its regular meeting on Monday, June 17th. The approved budget includes a reduction in the district's overall tax rate, significant staff compensation increases, and substantial investments in technology, safety, and campus facilities.
The new budget reflects a lowered tax rate of $0.8546 per $100 valuation, down from $0.9346. This $0.08 decrease is attributed to rising property values across Tyler, allowing the district to maintain revenue levels while providing tax relief to property owners. The adopted rate comprises $0.6696 for Maintenance and Operations (M&O) and $0.1850 for Interest and Sinking (I&S).
A major component of the 2024-2025 budget is enhanced staff compensation. Teachers, librarians, counselors, and nurses will receive a 2% pay increase based on their mid-point salary. Auxiliary staff, including bus drivers, food service personnel, and maintenance crews, are slated for a 3% boost. Additionally, special education teachers will be awarded a $1,500 stipend, while bilingual teachers and speech pathologists will each receive a $1,000 stipend.
Beyond personnel, the budget allocates significant funds to district-wide improvements. $3.5 million is earmarked for the refresh cycle of new student and staff laptops, ensuring updated technology resources. Safety remains a top priority with $1 million in recurring funds dedicated to increasing security personnel, enhancing camera systems, and implementing other safety technologies across all campuses.
Investments extend to athletic facilities, with funding designated for turf fields, tracks, press boxes, and scoreboards at key locations including Rose Stadium, the TISD Soccer Complex, Tyler High School, and Tyler Legacy High School. The fine arts department will benefit from instrument replacements, and the transportation department will acquire five new school buses to modernize its fleet. The comprehensive budget aims to address critical needs across the district, from classrooms to athletic fields and bus routes, for the upcoming academic year.
