Waelder ISD board weighs tax rate hike, personnel moves; no decisions published
The Waelder ISD Board of Trustees met three times in the past week, but no minutes have been published yet, so no decisions have been confirmed. The most consequential item on the agenda is a proposed increase to the district's Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate for the 2026-2027 school year.
Proposed tax rate increase
The board held a public hearing on Aug. 17 to discuss raising the I&S tax rate by $0.03 per $100 valuation, from $0.0556 to $0.0856. Superintendent Dr. Ron Lilie presented the proposal. The regular meeting later that same day included a vote on adopting the increased rate, but the outcome is not yet available because minutes have not been published.
Other items from the Aug. 17 regular meeting
The agenda for the regular meeting also included:
- Approving a waiver for Partnership Schools.
- Accepting the 2026 appraisal rolls from the Gonzales and Caldwell County appraisal districts.
- Accepting a $101 donation from Eastern Star for school supplies.
- Adjusting the mileage reimbursement rate to $0.76 per mile (from $0.725), effective July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.
- Raising meal allowances for athletes from $10 to $12 and for coaches from $12 to $15.
- Approving the student code of conduct.
- A closed session for personnel matters.
Special meeting on Aug. 20
The board held a special meeting on Aug. 20 to consider approving financial authority for Superintendent Dr. Ron Lilie. The agenda also included a closed session under Texas Open Meetings Act Section 551.074 for personnel matters, specifically resignations and hiring, with possible action afterward. A public forum on agenda items and public comment on non-agenda items were also scheduled.
Status of decisions
All three meetings are listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. As a result, no official decisions or vote tallies are available at this time. The items above are proposed or under consideration, not confirmed actions.
Coming up
No upcoming meetings are scheduled for the next 14 days, according to the district's published agenda.