Friendswood ISD homeowners will pay a slightly lower tax rate after the board of trustees approved a nearly $70.4 million balanced budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The board approved the rate at its Monday, Aug. 24, workshop, setting it at $1.0249 per $100 of home valuation, down from $1.03 in the prior year, Community Impact reported. That amounts to a nearly 0.5% reduction. For a homeowner with the median taxable value of $424,611, the estimated annual property tax bill comes to about $4,350, according to district budget documents.

The new rate breaks down to $0.7818 for maintenance and operations (M&O), which covers daily expenses, and $0.2431 for interest and sinking (I&S), which pays bond debt. The Aug. 24 workshop included a public hearing before the budget approval where residents could comment or ask questions.

Where the money goes

The budget is about 4% larger than the prior year's, driven largely by staff compensation. Salary expenses climbed nearly $3 million, district documents show. Payroll now accounts for about 84% of total spending.

Instructional services make up about 70.2% of the budget, an increase of roughly $2.6 million over the prior year.

The district had projected a $3.3 million surplus at a March 23 workshop. That cushion was absorbed after the board approved a compensation plan at its May 11 meeting.

Staff raises and stipends

The compensation plan gives every district employee a 2% raise. Bus drivers and monitors received a $0.75-per-hour increase, and custodians received a $1-per-hour increase.

The board also approved a one-time salary supplement of about $134,000 for non-teaching professional staff, including instructional coaches, specialists and campus support roles such as Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) facilitators and nurses.

Three new stipends round out the package: $52,000 for special education staff, $45,000 for athletics and $17,000 for elementary and intermediate coaches.

Campus performance

Friendswood ISD serves 6,194 students across six campuses, according to district records. All six schools earned A ratings in the state's 2026 accountability ratings, and the district posted a 99% graduation rate.