District Publications: State of the District 2019-20 | Page 16

FISCAL Responsibility Mansfield ISD has consistently been awarded the highest recognitions from the Government Finance Officers Association and the Association of School Business Officials International for its commitment to fiscal integrity, responsibility and transparency. The district has also received the highest grade every year in the state’s School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), which ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices. 2019-20 Budget The Mansfield ISD School Board adopted another balanced budget for the 2019-20 school year. The budget allowed for salary increases for MISD employees. Teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses with six or more years of experience received a 3.5% raise at the midpoint of their pay grade. General Fund: $307.6 million (educational supplies and equipment, payroll, utilities) Debt Service Fund: $58.3 million (bond money, new construction, debt administration) Student Nutrition: $18 million (breakfast and lunch programs) Tax Decrease Mansfield ISD’s tax rate for the 2019-20 school year has dropped from $1.54 to $1.46 per $100 of certified property value. Under the new tax rate of $1.46, 97 cents will go toward the maintenance and operations (M&O) fund, and 49 cents is for the debt service fund.