Houston ISD teachers and staff could see pay raises as part of a proposed $2 billion budget set for a Thursday evening vote, even as the district faces declining enrollment and ongoing funding pressure.
Board members are set to consider the spending plan, which HISD says would total roughly $2 billion next year while maintaining an estimated $730 million fund balance. That reserve exceeds the Texas Education Agency’s recommended $518 million reserve to keep operations running normally for three months.
“A balanced budget would be huge, especially after overcoming a $520 million deficit in the second year of the intervention,” Superintendent Mike Miles said in a public statement.
Under the proposal, district administrators are recommending a 4 percent general pay increase (GPI) for central office employees and raising the minimum wage to $17 per hour—a bump from the original $15 per hour, which would impact maintenance, operations staff, nutrition service, bus driver trainees and student interns.
Educator pay would also increase under the district’s pay-for-performance plan. In other words, more than 60 percent of HISD teachers could be making at least $80K for the 2026-2027 school year—a nearly $20K bump since 2023.
“Our budget supports what matters most: strong instruction, better outcomes for students, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” Miles added. “We are making deliberate choices to protect classrooms, invest in teachers and principals, and maintain long-term financial stability.”
Because funding for schools is linked to enrollment and attendance, HISD expects lower attendance revenue—resulting in a loss of $18 million compared to the previous year—despite slight improvements in figures presented during the workshop. However, Miles said in the May workshop that federal uncertainty as well as funding disruptions continue to be a factor for other school districts across the country.
This is a developing story and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.