Conroe ISD teachers will see a pay boost in September thanks to action by Texas lawmakers, who allocated more than $4 billion for school employee raises during the 89th Texas Legislative session.
The board of trustees got its first look at the district's 2026 budget last week, which won’t include a deficit following a $12 million shortfall for 2025.
Conroe ISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza said the preliminary budget for 2026 is $761.05 million, up from the district’s current budget of $711.97. The tax rate of 94.96 cents per $100 valuation is expected to remain unchanged.
Along with funding for raises, the state also allocated funding for other areas, including special education and school safety. That funding is critical for the upcoming year, according to Conroe ISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Garza.
“This has, by far, gotten us out of a hole,” Garza said of a $4 million deficit the district was facing earlier this year. “We are in a much better position than some districts, so we are fortunate for that.”
Garza said the proposed starting pay for teachers will increase from $60,000 to $64,000.
Legislators increased allotments for hiring incentives and created allotments for teacher retention up to $8,000, depending on experience and enrollment. Funding for support staff retention also increased.
In addition to funding for staff and teachers, the state also earmarked $2.6 billion to address funding gaps, including funds for special education and school safety.
Legislators also allocated $1.7 billion for targeted programs like Career and Technical Education, teacher preparation and early learning.
The state’s allocation per student also increased from $6,160 to $6,215. Garza said Conroe ISD's enrollment for 2026 is estimated to be about 73,500 students.
“We are thankful for what the state has done in terms of sending funding our way,” Garza said.
Board President Misty Odenweller said the district needs to prioritize funding pay increases for career teachers. She said there are pay increases for those who move to different positions, like a teacher becoming a counselor, but there is only a small increase for those who remain teachers.
“I want to be sure that we incentivize those who do have the calling to stay in the classroom,” Odenweller said. “I don’t want to lose those veteran teachers. They make all the difference on the campuses.”
The district will begin its budget process later this month.