The America@250 special section is scheduled for publication in The Sachse News on July 2 and will highlight the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration ahead of Independence Day on July 4, 2026. The section will feature content focused on American history, patriotism, trivia, activities and educational features designed for readers of all ages.

The publication aims to recognize the nation’s founding and the spirit of community as the country marks 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Businesses, organizations and community partners have the opportunity to participate through sponsorships and advertising packages available in both print and digital formats.

Advertising options range from full-page placements to smaller display advertisements. 

The deadline to reserve advertising space and submit copy is June 19. The special section will be published July 2.

For additional information or to reserve advertising space, interested participants may call 972-442-5515 x22 or email [email protected].

The district mailed 2026 real property appraisal notices April 15. Property owners who disagree with their valuations may file a protest by the deadline listed on their notice. 

Countywide, estimated taxable values increased 1.28% to $272.8 billion, up from $269.36 billion in the 2025 certified roll. New property added $7.87 billion to the tax base. The average market value of a Collin County home was estimated at $592,948, down from $599,487 a year earlier. 

The county’s 2025 report showed an 8.11% increase, indicating the 2026 market has cooled significantly compared with the prior year.

“Collin County is still growing at a rapid pace as evidenced by the increase in new construction in most areas,” said Brian Swanson, assistant chief appraiser. “However, the year-over-year existing home values have decreased slightly. This will still result in a slightly upward trend for the taxing entities when we certify the values.”

In Sachse, Collin County values declined 1.55%, from $1.80 billion to $1.77 billion. New construction accounted for $4.3 million, or 0.24% of total value. The average market value of a home in the Collin County portion of Sachse fell from $520,329 to $513,423. 

Sachse residents who live in Dallas County pay property taxes to the city, Dallas County, Garland ISD, Dallas College and Parkland Hospital district. Residents who live in Collin County pay property taxes to the city, Collin County, Wylie ISD and Collin College.

In Wylie, taxable values were nearly flat, increasing 0.04% from $8.69 billion to $8.70 billion. New property added $71.3 million. The average market value of a home in Wylie dropped from $447,679 to $433,200. 

Wylie Independent School District posted a 1.63% decline in taxable values, from $10.99 billion to $10.81 billion. New property added $180.7 million. The average market value of a home within WISD decreased from $483,634 to $473,527. 

In Murphy, taxable values rose 2.18%, from $3.96 billion to $4.05 billion. New construction added $33.9 million. The average market value of a home increased from $609,774 to $620,390. 

Elsewhere in eastern Collin County, Lavon posted one of the largest municipal gains at 15.3%, rising to $1.72 billion, while Princeton increased 3.83% to $5.07 billion and Farmersville rose 2.19% to $539 million. 

Residents may file appraisal protests online through Collin Central Appraisal District at efileprotest.collincad.org, by mail or in person.

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Conroe ISD announced Wednesday, Aug. 27, that Wylie ISD Superintendent David Vinson has been named its lone finalist for the top leadership post, succeeding Curtis Null, who was hired by Lake Travis ISD.

The news prompted Wylie ISD’s Board of Trustees to inform the community and begin planning for a leadership transition.

Under state law, a 21-day waiting period must elapse before Conroe ISD can formally appoint Vinson as superintendent. During that time — and until a start date is finalized — he will continue to serve Wylie ISD, helping to ensure a smooth handoff of responsibilities.

Since joining the district in 2011, Vinson has guided Wylie ISD through years of exceptional growth, statewide and national recognition, and strong performance in both academic and extracurricular arenas.

Conroe ISD, which serves more than 72,000 students, is among the state’s largest districts. It covers 348 square miles across multiple communities, including The Woodlands and Conroe.

Wylie ISD enrollment during the 2024-25 school year was about 19,500 students.

In November 2024, Vinson’s base salary was set at $315,000 with $26,400 in additional compensation.

TEA reports show Null earned a base salary of $365,881 in his final year at Conroe, while former Lake Travis ISD superintendent Paul Norton, who resigned in February 2025 amid misconduct allegations, earned $468,296 in total compensation.

“Dr. Vinson helped Wylie ISD reach new heights and truly put our district on the map,” said Board President Jacob Day. “His leadership and his dedication have made a lasting impact. While it’s hard to imagine Wylie ISD without him, we are grateful for his service and wish him and Cristy [Mrs. Vinson] the very best.”

As the district prepares for this change, the board reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the standards and values that define Wylie ISD.

“As a board, we are confident in the future of Wylie ISD,” Day said on behalf of the trustees. “Our responsibility is to ensure our next leader shares our vision, lives our values, and is fully committed to our kids, our staff, and our community. Wylie ISD is in an excellent position, and we are ready to build on that success as we step into this next chapter of leadership.”

During the transition, Deputy Superintendent Kim Spicer is designated to oversee district operations and initiatives should Vinson need to be absent for personal or professional reasons.

The board plans to convene soon to chart next steps and establish a timeline for naming Wylie ISD’s next superintendent.

For more on this story see the September 4, 2025 print or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.

Trustees welcomed Craig Needham as the new Executive Director of Fine Arts, succeeding the recently retired Glenn Lambert. Needham brings experience from Arlington ISD and previous roles in McKinney and Richardson ISDs. They also recognized Shawnell Bradshaw as the first principal of Hartman Early Childhood Learning Center, which opens this month to serve the district’s youngest learners.

For more on this story see the August 28, 2025 print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.

The board welcomed Mary Zucha as the new principal of Cooper Junior High, following the promotion of Leslie Dodson to Executive Director of Student Services.

Zucha, a Wylie native, began her career in the district in 2015, teaching seventh-grade science at Cooper and later serving as assistant principal. She was named Wylie ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2019-20.

Dodson, who led Cooper during the 2024-25 school year, has held leadership roles at several campuses since joining Wylie ISD in 2019. She brings experience across elementary, junior high and high school levels to her new districtwide role.

Wylie East and Wylie High School students, part of a three-school lacrosse team, which included Plano East students, were recognized for winning the Texas High School Lacrosse League Division C state championship.

Wylie High’s Air Force JROTC program received honors for top performance at the Joint Cadet Leadership Course, with students earning Distinguished Graduate and national award distinctions.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Scott Roderick presented the proposed 2025-26 budget, which includes general, debt service and student nutrition funds.

The 2025-26 financial outlook is based on property values of $11.81 billion, a 6.1% increase from last year. Enrollment is expected to rise modestly to 19,560 students,

The general fund is budgeted at $206.3 million in revenue and $223.3 million in expenditures, resulting in a budgeted $17 million deficit. The fund includes about $85.8 million from local sources, $118.1 million from the state, $823,800 in federal funds and $1.6 million from other sources.

Expenditures are budgeted at roughly $223.3 million, with $183.4 million allocated to payroll and $39.9 million budgeted for non-payroll expenses.

The district’s proposed debt service fund includes total revenue of about $54.9 million, with approximately $51.2 million from local sources and $3.7 million from the state.

Expenditures are budgeted to match revenue at $54.9 million. This includes about $24 million in principal payments, $30.9 million in interest payments and $20,000 in fees.

The debt service fund is budgeted to break even, with no surplus or deficit projected.

Wylie ISD’s proposed student nutrition fund budget has total revenue of approximately $11.5 million, with $6.3 million coming from local sources, $250,000 from the state and about $4.9 million in federal funding.

Total expenditures are budgeted at $13 million, including roughly $5 million for payroll and $8 million for non-payroll expenses.

No one spoke during the required public hearings and trustees approved proposed budgets for the three funds.

Roderick said his office plans to present an amended version of the proposed budget to trustees in August after legislative updates are finalized.

A 2025-26 compensation package was also approved. It includes HB 2 raises for teachers, a $5,000 increase for nurses, counselors and certified librarians, and a $1,000 increase for 1-2 year teachers. Starting salaries for new teachers will be $62,070 and all non-teaching employees will receive a 3% pay increase.

The package will increase payroll by 14.1 million of which $5.2 million will be funded by HB 2, leaving the district to fund $8.9 million of the package

The district also introduced the Achieving a Zero Deficit Initiative, or AZDI, aimed at restoring a balanced budget by the 2026-27 school year. The initiative will focus on identifying cost efficiencies, alternative revenue sources and legislative advocacy. Monthly updates will begin in September, with final recommendations expected in January 2026.

Superintendent David Vinson said the district remains optimistic about its financial future but warned of the need for difficult decisions due to inflation and state underfunding of required programs.

“We want to get back to broke,” Vinson said. “We want to remain hopeful, but we’re in a situation now where we’re going to have to make some hard decisions and hard choices.”

In other action, trustees approved the hiring of Angie McIntosh, a retired Wylie police officer, as the district’s new safety and security specialist. McIntosh will also handle intra-transport duties and is included on the list of authorized staff permitted to carry a firearm on campus.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18.

For more stories about the Sachse community see the next print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism.

Garland ISD taxpayers will have a chance to weigh in on next year’s budget and proposed tax rate during a public meeting later this month.

The meeting is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Harris Hill Administration Building – Annex, 601 S. Jupiter Road in Garland.

District officials say community feedback is welcome as they present the proposed 2025–26 budget and discuss how it may impact local property taxes.

The proposed total tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is $1.1562 per $100 of assessed property value. That includes a maintenance and operations (M&O) rate of $0.7722 and a debt service (interest and sinking) rate of $0.3840. The proposed rate is higher than last year’s adopted rate of $1.0509 and exceeds the voter-approval rate of $1.051448.

If the board ultimately adopts a tax rate above the voter-approval threshold, a tax ratification election will be triggered.

Garland ISD’s proposed budget reflects a 5.81% increase in maintenance and operations expenditures and a 30.49% increase in debt service, resulting in an overall 9.75% increase in total expenditures compared to last year. According to district data, the total taxable value of property within the district has risen to nearly $37.8 billion—up from $33.1 billion the previous year. The value of new taxable property has also increased, growing from approximately $673.5 million to more than $1 billion.

Under the proposed rate, the average tax bill for a residential property would increase by $243.45, rising from $2,651.47 to $2,894.92. However, tax amounts for homeowners 65 and older, or surviving spouses meeting eligibility requirements, are frozen under state law and will not increase.

Garland ISD’s outstanding bonded indebtedness stands at more than $1 billion, and its projected fund balances at the end of the fiscal year include $161 million in the maintenance and operations fund and over $70 million in the interest and sinking fund. These balances are not encumbered by debt obligations and are expected to support district operations before the next state aid payment.

See related budget workshop story in this issue of The Sachse News.

For more stories about the Sachse community see the next print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism.

District trustees are scheduled to adopt the budget on June 16, following a required public hearing that evening.

The general fund projects $206.3 million in revenue and $223.3 million in expenditures, resulting in a projected $17 million deficit. Provisions from the recently adopted House Bill 2 (HB 2)—including mandated teacher raises—could grow the deficit to $20 million. Wylie ISD would use its fund balance to offset the gap, a common approach for Texas districts.

Revenue is down nearly 3% compared to the 2024–25 budget due to the expiration of certain federal funds and changes in state formulas, even as local property tax revenue rises by 8%.

The proposed budget includes $6.6 million in new payroll expenditures in the general fund. This includes a 1% across-the-board raise for all staff, costing about $1.8 million, and an additional $2.1 million each for new staffing allocations and special education positions. Another $590,000 is designated for market-based pay adjustments.

The passage of HB 2 gives teachers with three to four years of experience a $2,500 raise, and those with five or more years an increase of $5,500.

Wylie ISD’s plan extends raises to newer teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians, and administrators, aiming to remain competitive with nearby districts such as Rockwall, Plano, and Allen ISDs—each of which is offering salary increases ranging from 3% to 3.6%.

The total payroll increase across all funds exceeds $10.7 million, a notable investment aligned with the district’s strategic goal of retaining and developing a high-quality workforce.

Wylie ISD anticipates enrollment will rise by about 60 students, bringing total enrollment to 19,560. While the increase is modest, internal projections and census-based estimates show that younger families continue to move into the district, particularly in early grade levels such as kindergarten and first grade.

Since Texas schools are funded based on average daily attendance (ADA) rather than enrollment, maintaining attendance rates is key to revenue. Despite some ADA fluctuations, Wylie ISD projects a slight bump in revenue from guaranteed yield increases, from $129.52 to $132.04 per weighted student.

District data also shows a growing number of aging residents, reflecting a broader shift in household composition that could impact future enrollment trends and community services.

Instructional spending remains the district’s top priority, with $133.7 million allocated to classroom teaching. This equates to $6,832 per student, down slightly from the previous year. Spending on curriculum and instructional staff development remains level at just under $6 million.

According to Wylie ISD’s human resources team, the district will add 25 new teaching positions, including 16 in special education. Administrative staff will increase by two, with one new principal and one assistant principal slated for Kreymer Elementary. Additionally, 15 new paraprofessionals will be hired to support instructional and student needs across campuses.

Other instructional support categories—such as guidance, counseling, school leadership and social work—see slight increases. For example, school leadership rises to $11.4 million, while student counseling and evaluation services grow to $6.5 million.

Operationally, transportation services increase by 16.8% to $9.06 million, due in part to growth and inflation. Plant maintenance and operations are budgeted at $21.65 million, while security and monitoring services increase to $2.68 million. Technology services, including data processing, total $5.43 million.

The student nutrition fund is projected to run a deficit but remains stable due to an available fund balance. Food services spending increases by nearly 16.5%, to $12.98 million.

The debt service fund grows by nearly 16% to $54.9 million, largely due to scheduled bond payments. This equates to $2,806 per student, up from $2,427 in 2024–25.

Tax rate adjustments will depend on certified property values, expected in July. The current maintenance and operations (M&O) rate is $0.734 per $100 of valuation, with a potential decrease under new legislation. The interest and sinking (I&S) rate stands at $0.455, though changes are possible pending legislative action and updated property valuations.

State-level proposals such as increased homestead exemptions and further tax compression could impact the district’s ability to generate local revenue for debt and operations.

House Bill 2, which has been approved by both the House and the Senate, has been sent to Gov. Greg Abbott. It includes a $55 increase to the basic allotment, as well as new funding tiers for special education and the Teacher Incentive Allotment. While some provisions take effect in 2026–27, the compensation-related changes could impact Wylie ISD’s 2025–26 obligations.

The board is expected to adopt the general fund, nutrition, and debt service budgets during its June 16 trustee meeting, after a required public hearing.

Certified values will be received in July, and the official tax rate will be adopted in August.

For more stories about the Sachse community see the next print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism.

As Wylie ISD prepares for the 2025-26 fiscal year, administrators are building a financial plan shaped by modest student enrollment growth, shifting property values and an uncertain state funding environment.

“The 25-26 number is just a placeholder,” said Scott Roderick, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, referencing preliminary projections for local property value growth. “Last year, we stood before you and said we think— because of interest rate hikes that were going on— [we figured] the Wylie schools (property values) will go up about 5%. When it all settled, it was over 12%.”

For more on this story see the April 17, 2025 print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.

The first item up for debate during the Jan. 21 regular meeting was a proposal from the Planning and Zoning Committee regarding a change in zoning notification requirements.

Council members revisited a discussion first presented during the Jan. 13 P&Z meeting. The proposed changes would reduce the radius for sending zoning public hearing notices from 1,000 feet to just 200 feet from the property in question.

For more on this story see the January 30, 2025 print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.