FBISD Board Approves 7-cent Tax Increase to Cover Approved Budget

FORT BEND ISD (September 16, 2025) – Fort Bend ISD’s Board of Trustees approved a 7-cent property tax increase using disaster pennies at Monday night’s meeting to support the district’s $901.6 million operating budget for the 2025-26 school year.

The newly adopted tax rate of $1.0569 per $100 valuation includes the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) rate of $0.7869, which covers the district's operational expenses, and an Interest and Sinking (I&S) rate of $0.2700, which is designated for the repayment of bonds issued by the district.

The new rate represents a 3.3 percent tax increase adding approximately $70 a year on a home valued at $100,000.

However, if Senate Bill 4 (which raises the statewide homestead exemption to $140,000) passes in the November 4 election, some homeowners may see a decrease in their property taxes.

Disaster pennies are a provision in Texas law that allows school districts to temporarily increase their property tax rates without voter approval following a declared disaster and will be in effect for the 2025-26 school year only.

The new tax rate will provide the district with a projected $7.5 million surplus, according to FBISD’s Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn.

FBISD Board Members approved the 2025-26 operating budget in June which includes funding for a new compensation plan to help retain and attract staff.

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