Round Rock ISD trustees on Aug. 13 unanimously approved calling a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election to increase teacher and staff compensation throughout the district.

The 2026 VATRE asks voters to consider increasing the Maintenance & Operations tax rate by 6 copper pennies—to a total tax rate of $0.9484 per $100 of valuation, still one of the lowest among school districts in the region. 

Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez thanked the board for its decision to call for the VATRE to increase compensation to the district's educators and staff, who are facing increased health care and other costs.

“This VATRE will be used to provide a 2% raise across the board, and will also offset some of that increase in health care costs,” Azaiez said. “Everything in the VATRE is going back to our staff, and to our teachers.”

Unlike golden pennies, copper pennies are subject to the state’s recapture system. If approved by voters in November, the VATRE would raise approximately $30 million in additional tax revenue, with roughly half of that taken by the state under the recapture system. The remaining approximately $15 million will be used to increase compensation and address salary compression throughout the district. 

Staff and teachers who were not part of the Teacher Retention Allotment will receive a 2% pay increase at the midpoint of their salary range. 

Highlights

• Teachers -  Increase the starting salary to $58,000

• Professional campus support - Increase the starting salary to $58,000

• Librarians - Increase the starting salary to $60,481

• Athletic trainers - Increase the starting salary to $68,235

• Specific hourly employee groups - Increase starting salaries for educational assistants ($17.25), office support ($17.25), custodians ($17) and bus assistants ($17.75)

• All other employees - Eligible employees will receive an increase equal to 2% of the pay range midpoint; Implement employee salary adjustment recommendations from the TASB Pay System Review to improve market competitiveness and address pay compression

If voters approve the VATRE, the salary increases will be retroactive to each employee’s start date for the 2026–27 school year. Staff would receive the retroactive payment in their December paycheck. 

The district most recently went to voters to approve the 2024 Bond, funds from which cannot be used for raises. 

“We are so thankful to our voters for approving the 2024 Bond,” Azaiez said. “Those funds can only be used to improve our campuses, however, and can’t be used to provide raises for all our deserving staff. This VATRE would support educators throughout the district with a permanent salary increase.”

If voters reject the VATRE, the district's budget will not include salary increases or address salary compression issues.