$152 million budget cuts tax rate, funds one-time retention payments for staff
LONGVIEW, Texas — A score of 98 is hard to miss. For Longview taxpayers, the story behind the score matters even more.
Longview ISD earned a preliminary score of 98 and an A, or Superior Achievement, rating in the state's Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. The system is known as FIRST. It is the state's report card for how public schools manage money.
FIRST looks beyond a final balance. It checks how a district reports money and pays its bills. It also checks cash, debt, and financial rules. Longview's preliminary rating uses fiscal year 2025 financial data, the first full fiscal year after voters approved the 2024 bond program.
The result fits a long pattern. District records show recent FIRST scores of 96, 98, and 100, all in the state's top rating group.
"A 98 reflects consistent work across the district, from budgeting and accounting to purchasing, payroll, and cash management," said Dr. Wayne Guidry, Chief Financial Officer. "Every one of those processes is about protecting taxpayer resources and making sure they are available to support students, staff, and programs."
Tax rate falls again
The state score looks back. The district's tax plan shows what that same care looks like now.
The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved a total tax rate of $1.1199 at its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 24. The rate applies to each $100 of taxable property value for 2026-27. The total tax rate is 1 cent lower than the prior year.
M&O pays for teachers, buses, power, supplies, and other daily costs. The M&O rate is $0.6369, 34.1% lower than the district's 2020-21 M&O rate.
The interest and sinking rate, or I&S, will remain at $0.4830. That is the same level adopted in 2024-25, when the I&S rate increased by the one cent communicated to voters before the 2024 bond election. That money may be used only to repay voter-approved bond debt. A lower school tax rate does not always mean a lower bill because the appraisal district, not the school district, determines property values. Exemptions also affect the final bill.
Finance staff estimates the average homeowner will see a decrease of about $93.46. Additionally, due to new property tax exemptions implemented last fall, 54% of Longview ISD homeowners and 78% of senior citizens will pay NO property taxes.
The adopted budget is balanced at about $152.2 million, including $108,773,273 for daily operations, $36,116,750 for debt service, and $7,355,130 for the Child Nutrition fund, which supports cafeteria operations. Planned income and spending match in each fund. Recurring revenue fully covers recurring expenses, without relying on district reserves.
Savings that support staff
A balanced budget does not mean standing still. In January 2027, Longview ISD will provide one-time retention payments to eligible returning employees.
Eligible returning teachers, librarians, and registered nurses will receive $2,000. Eligible returning professional staff will receive $2,250. Eligible returning hourly staff will receive $1,250. Eligible returning part-time staff will receive 50% of the amount for their group. Teachers, librarians, and registered nurses also receive their normal annual step increase.
The payments are expected to cost $2,095,250. The district identified funding through internal cuts, restructuring, open positions, and other savings. The plan does not add new revenue or create a recurring cost.
Superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard said the goal was to put real money in employees’ hands while protecting the district from “structural deficits, deeper cuts, or instability later.”
Bond work delivers more value
Careful spending is also showing up in the voter-approved bond program. Across projects already awarded, construction costs are more than $23 million below early estimates. That figure does not include design fees and other soft costs.
Those savings stay inside the voter-approved bond program. They cannot be moved into payroll or daily operations. They can give the district room to meet other needs tied to the work voters approved.
The results are easy to see. More than 75,000 square feet of dining, restroom, and classroom space were improved at Longview High School this summer. Work also continues on the career and technical education center, natatorium, multipurpose indoor facility, early childhood center, and transportation center.
Even as the 2024 bond program moves forward, the district continues to pay down the debt early. The district's debt-to-taxable-value ratio fell from 5.34% in 2024-25 to 4.73% in 2025-26. The budget sets aside $5,624,137 to pay bond debt early. Planned bond interest is $538,125 lower than the prior year's budget. Paying debt sooner can reduce the interest taxpayers owe over time.
Strong management, stronger results
The best financial score means little if students do not benefit. Longview ISD also earned an 88 in the state's 2026 academic rating system. A total of 92% of rated campuses earned an A or B. Longview High School earned a 95, or A.
That is why the 98 matters. It sits alongside a lower tax rate, a balanced budget, staff support, construction savings, early debt payoff, and strong academic results. Together, those measures show how sound financial stewardship can support the district's larger academic mission.
All of this aligns with Elevate 2030, Longview ISD's strategic plan, particularly its priorities of Empowerment through Educational Excellence and Operational Excellence.
"These ratings measure different things, but together they tell us something important: excellence has to be both academic and operational," said Dr. Sheppard. "We cannot ask our students and staff to pursue excellence while accepting anything less from the systems that support them."
Dr. Sheppard said an 88 academic rating, a 98 financial rating, a lower tax rate, a balanced budget, more than $23 million in construction savings, and direct support for employees are the result of disciplined choices and a clear set of priorities.
"That is the work of Elevate 2030: managing resources responsibly so we can invest them where they matter most, in our people, our schools, and the opportunities we create for students," she added.