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Belton ISD board meeting, Aug 17, 2026

2 h 46 min · 0 public speakers

Budget cuts and layoffs ▶ 1:28:27Reading and test scores ▶ 1:12:49

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 2 h 46 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Board adopts 2026⁠-⁠2027 budget and $1.1177 total tax rate 39:57

  • The board held a public hearing on the 2026⁠-⁠2027 budget and proposed tax rate, and no public comments were made. 29:10
  • The board voted 7⁠-⁠0 to adopt the budget for accelerated instruction and the 2026⁠-⁠2027 fiscal year budget. 40:09
  • The board also voted 7⁠-⁠0 on a resolution adopting a maintenance and operations tax rate of 75.52 cents and a debt service tax rate of 36.25 cents, for a total tax rate of $1.1177. 41:45
  • The board voted 7⁠-⁠0 to commission a Citizens Bond Advisory Committee, then heard reports on bond and capital projects, the strategic plan and academic progress. 54:04

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Item by item (15)
  1. Opening of the meeting 17:24
    • Students from Chisholm Trail Elementary led the pledges. 19:54
  2. Student and community recognitions 20:34
    • A staff member recognized the Belton High School drumline, which the staff member said is the largest in the past 10 years. 21:49
    • A staff member recognized Lake Belton Middle School students for a first-place finish in the National History Day Junior Group documentary category. 23:15
    • The Teaching and Learning Department and community partner CGI were also recognized. 24:54
  3. Public hearing on budget and tax rate 26:37
    • The chief financial officer presented a balanced general fund budget with revenues and expenditures of $152,469,661 and a school nutrition fund with a $918,300 deficit. 29:27
    • Rucker Preston asked how much the tax rate had decreased since 2017, and a staff member answered approximately 30%. 34:13
  4. Accelerated instruction budget 38:56
    • The board considered adopting the budget for accelerated instruction for the 2026⁠-⁠2027 school year as presented. 38:56
    • The motion passed 7⁠-⁠0. 40:09
  5. Adoption of the district budget 39:57
    • The board considered a motion to adopt the 2026⁠-⁠2027 fiscal year budget as presented. 39:57
    • The motion passed 7⁠-⁠0. 40:50
  6. Tax rate resolution 40:49
    • A motion called for a maintenance and operations tax rate of 75.52 cents and a debt service tax rate of 36.25 cents, for a total tax rate of $1.1177. 41:10
    • The motion passed 7⁠-⁠0. 41:45
  7. Delegate Assembly representatives 41:33
    • Erin Bass said the board may appoint one delegate and one alternate to the 2026 Delegate Assembly, to be held in October in Houston. 42:13
    • One board member said serving again would not be a problem. ~43:38
    • One board member moved to appoint a second member as delegate, and another member said serving as alternate would be fine. 45:08
    • The motion passed 7⁠-⁠0. 45:49
  8. Citizens bond advisory committee 45:46
    • The deputy superintendent said the committee would review demographic data, growth trends and facility assessments and advise the district on any potential bond package. 46:17
    • The deputy superintendent said the committee's scope would be limited to a general Proposition A, that it would begin September 17th, 2026, and that each trustee would nominate 2 community members. 46:50
    • The motion to commission the committee passed 7⁠-⁠0. 54:04
  9. Bond and capital projects report 53:43
    • The deputy superintendent said 100% of the 2022 bond projects are complete and a little over $2 million in additional bond funds went mainly to safety and MEP projects. 54:19
    • The deputy superintendent said about $275,000 was invested in summer projects at 12 campuses and estimated around $2.8 million in remaining 2022 bond funds. 55:03
  10. Strategic plan report 1:03:34
    • A district staff member outlined the plan's priorities covering students, staff, community and financial management. 1:06:46
  11. Academic progress report 1:12:00
    • The assistant superintendent for teaching and learning said the district maintained an overall B rating, with a C in school progress and a C in closing the gaps. 1:12:15
    • The staff member reported a graduation rate just under 98%, a college career military rating of 94, and 11 distinctions. 1:16:02
    • The staff member said this is the final year of STAAR as it currently stands. 1:20:37
  12. Board committee reports 1:28:27
    • Erin Bass reported on a policy review, including a first reading of personnel policies under Policy Update 127. 1:28:27
    • Rucker Preston said the budget includes a 1.5% pay raise for all staff and puts the fund balance at around 23%. 1:31:32
    • Brandon Bozon said an earlier budget walked forward and adjusted only for inflation would have been $168 million, compared with around $152 million adopted. 1:32:56
  13. Superintendent's report 1:34:12
    • The superintendent described convocation, which brought together over 2,100 team members. 1:34:12
    • The superintendent said the district now has the 3rd largest FFA program in Texas and visited all 21 campuses on the first day of school. 1:37:04
  14. Board member highlights 1:41:20
    • Rucker Preston described parking spot painting at Belton High School and first-day visits to campuses. 1:41:30
  15. Consent agenda and easement agreement 1:53:30
    • A request was made to pull item G, a gate and roadway easement agreement, for separate discussion. 1:53:39
    • A staff member said buses could not turn around in a new section of Three Creeks and that county commissioners approved and are funding a gate solution. 1:55:32
    • The board went into closed session at 7:59, reconvened at 8:46 and adjourned at 8:46. 1:58:05
    • The consent agenda without item G passed 7⁠-⁠0, and item G passed 7⁠-⁠0. 1:54:27

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Belton ISD Board Meeting August 17, 2026”