Copperas Cove ISD has reached a major financial milestone. For the first time in four years, the district will enter a new fiscal year with a balanced budget, formally approved Monday evening during a rescheduled regular meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Trustees adopted the 2026–27 tax rate and a general operating budget totaling nearly $94 million, effective Sept. 1. The new budget reflects both strategic reductions and targeted investments. Spending decreases were approved for data processing, staff travel, and administrative salaries, while increased allocations were directed toward facility maintenance, instructional staff development, student opportunities, and employee compensation.
Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said the district’s priorities were clear from the outset.
“Our two primary goals in working through this budget process were to balance the budget and address the biggest needs in the district,” Hawkins said. “This budget reflects a long process in which our district leadership worked hard to prioritize fiscal needs that will have the greatest benefit for our students. Through this work, and by balancing the new budget, our district has taken an enormous step forward in responsible financial stewardship.”
The balanced budget marks a significant turnaround following three consecutive years of deficits: approximately $6.5 million in 2023–24, $2.6 million in 2024–25, and $358,000 in 2025–26.
Tax Rate Adopted for 2026–27
Trustees also approved a total tax rate of $1.05490 per $100 valuation. The Maintenance & Operations (M&O) rate will remain at $0.7575 for the fourth straight year. The Interest & Sinking (I&S) rate was set at $0.29740, following voter approval of $154.5 million in bonds last November for districtwide capital improvements.
Hawkins emphasized that the adopted I&S rate reflects a commitment made to voters during the 2025 bond election.
“We made a promise that we would not saddle them with the full increase in I&S taxes at one time,” Hawkins said. “The rate adopted this evening reflects our administration holding true to that promise. With these renovation projects slated to begin soon, it allows us to begin modernizing the facilities our students are learning in and avoid a larger increase in taxing for our community.”
The budget and tax rate were originally scheduled for consideration on Aug. 17 but were delayed due to a citywide water emergency. CCISD recently earned its fourth consecutive perfect score on the Texas Education Agency’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), underscoring the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Chief Financial Officer Cliff Heath said the district remains focused on maximizing opportunities for students while maintaining transparency with taxpayers.
“Our team will continue to work within the means afforded to us to make sure every Bulldawg has every possible opportunity for success,” Heath said. “I hope our community sees that our administration is working tirelessly to remain good stewards of their tax dollars and minimize the impact they see as a result.”
New Partnerships Expand Student Opportunities
Beyond budget actions, trustees approved agreements with the City of Copperas Cove and Coryell County EMS to support the district’s new EMS program within Career & Technical Education. The partnerships will provide clinical affiliations and supervision for students entering emergency medical fields.
Trustees also approved a series of public‑private partnerships with Fort Davis ISD, Green Space Learning, Southwest Christian School, Hill Country Educational Leadership, Alpha Form School, Kids Village Montessori Tres Lagos, New Creation Learning Center, Inspiring Little Minds Learning Center, and Central Texas Children’s Academy.
These collaborations will allow CCISD to extend its high‑quality educational services—recognized among the strongest in Region 12—to a broader network of students across Texas.
“These new public‑private partnerships have been a labor of love for our team in CCISD,” Hawkins said. “We want to make sure every student in Texas, no matter which school they attend, has access to the very best education possible. While we will always continue looking to improve our craft, we want to partner with daycares and private schools who share the same vision for student success that we do.”
Upcoming Meetings
The Board of Trustees will next meet for a Special Called/Workshop Meeting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 14, followed by its regular September meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28. Both meetings will take place in the Board Room at the CCISD Service & Training Center on South Main Street.
Meeting agendas are posted outside the District Service & Training Center three business days prior and can be viewed online at www.CCISD.com/SchoolBoard.
