At the November 2025 polls, Liberty Hill ISD residents approved Prop A, a Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) of $1.24. This was an increase of $0.07 from the previous year. This approved election will increase this year's school revenue by $10.7 Million to the Maintenance & Operations budget and will support additional funding for future school years.

Thank you to all voters who came out to cast their ballots during the election cycle.

We understand this election was difficult for many, as a tax increase carries a financial burden on some households. Liberty Hill ISD is committed to demonstrating transparency and building trust through the process of investing these funds back into our students and staff.

We created this page to keep you all informed as the funds from Prop A are put into action.

$7.2 Million to Student Programs

$1.3 Million for Safety and Security

$2.2 Million to Recruit and Retain High Quality Staff

When will LHISD receive the funds to reinvest in student programs, school safety, and staff retention and recruitment?

LHISD will begin receiving funds as residents and businesses pay their annual county tax bills over the next couple of months, with the majority of funds expected by February 2026.  Additionally, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will make state payments to LHISD in March 2026.

How will the $10.7 million be allocated?

Prop A funds will go towards the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) budget.  This budget goes towards staff salaries and benefits, utility costs, insurance, supplies, and other day-to-day expenses. Approximately 86% of the M&O budget is allocated to staff salaries and benefits.  

Prop A funds are not primarily used to build new buildings, construct athletic facilities, purchase land, or complete major maintenance.  In 2021 and 2023, Liberty Hill ISD voters approved bond elections that dedicated funds to those capital projects and improvements. To see Bond updates, click here.

Student Programs - $7.2 Million

Prop A Spending Update:

November 2025

  • LHISD began working with campus principals to identify critical need positions for the remainder of the 2025–2026 school year.

  • Planning began for staffing additions tied to district growth and the opening of Legacy Ranch Middle School, Legacy Ranch High School expansion, and Lariat Trails Elementary.

December 2025

  • Restored funds to the per-student allotment that had previously been reduced.

  • Adjusted campus budgets based on enrollment and staffing levels.

  • Added 1 additional paraprofessional at each campus to address immediate student needs.

January 2026

At the January Board of Trustees meeting, additional staffing positions were approved to support district growth and the opening of new campuses for the 2026–2027 school year.

Approved positions included:

  • 20 teacher positions based on enrollment projections

  • 2 instructional coach positions:

    • Legacy Ranch Middle School

    • Lariat Trails Elementary

  • 2 nurse positions:

    • Legacy Ranch Middle School

    • Lariat Trails Elementary

Additional operational support positions approved included:

  • 1 Payroll Specialist

  • 1 Human Resources Coordinator

  • 1 HVAC Technician

The Board also approved the conversion of a warehouse manager position to a full-time role to support district operations.

February 2026

At the February Board of Trustees meeting, additional staffing positions were approved to support growth, student services, and the opening of new campuses for the 2026–2027 school year.

Approved positions included:

  • 30 teacher positions districtwide

  • 1 librarian for Lariat Trails Elementary

  • 1 ARD Facilitator

  • 1 School Psychologist

  • 1 Speech-Language Pathologist

  • 1 Diagnostician

Additional operational support positions approved included:

  • 1 PEIMS Specialist

  • 1 Human Resources Director

  • 1 Early Childhood Director

  • 1 Student Support Services Coordinator

To support the opening of new campuses, the district also approved:

  • 15 custodial positions for Legacy Ranch High School and Lariat Trails Elementary, including lead custodians

March 2026

At the March Board of Trustees meeting, additional campus and academic support positions were approved for the 2026–2027 school year.

Approved positions included:

  • 15 Special Education teacher positions

  • 4 Gifted & Talented teacher positions

  • 2 LPAC teacher positions

  • 7 Administrative Intern positions across elementary, middle, and high school campuses

  • 1 Assistant Principal at Legacy Ranch Middle School

  • 1 Assistant Principal at Tierra Rosa Elementary

  • 1 Associate Principal at Legacy Ranch High School

  • 2 counselor positions:

    • Legacy Ranch High School

    • Legacy Ranch Middle School

  • 1 instructional coach at Legacy Ranch High School

  • 3 librarian paraprofessional positions

Additional district support positions approved included:

  • 1 Coordinator for Advanced Academics/CCMR

  • 1 Coordinator for Academies/NTP/Mentor Programs

The district also increased the daily substitute RN pay rate to $200 per day to remain competitive with surrounding districts and improve the ability to secure qualified substitute nurses.

April 2026

At the April Board of Trustees meeting, additional growth positions were approved to support student services, district growth, and the opening of new campuses for the 2026–2027 school year.

Approved positions included:

  • 5 additional teacher positions to support district growth

  • 1 Speech-Language Pathologist

  • 1 ARD Facilitator

  • 1 Counselor for Lariat Trails Elementary

  • 1 Director of Special Education

  • 1 LPAC Instructional Coach

  • 1 Occupational Therapist

  • 6 General Education Paraprofessionals supporting ESL, Credit Recovery, and ISS programs

  • 3 Special Education Paraprofessionals

  • 2 grant-funded Behavior Support & Family Engagement Specialists

Additional campus support positions approved included:

  • 1 Administrative Assistant for Counseling at Legacy Ranch High School

  • 1 Administrative Assistant for Assistant Principals at Legacy Ranch High School

  • 1 Attendance Clerk at Legacy Ranch High School

  • 1 Receptionist at Legacy Ranch Middle School

These staffing additions support student academic services, special education services, multilingual programs, and operational readiness for new campuses opening in Fall 2026.

Safety & Security - $1.3 Million

The safety of our students is our highest priority.

With the approval of Prop A, LHISD will be able to continue fully funding campus and department safety and security initiatives, which include an armed police officer at every campus.

Unfortunately, the state of Texas's funding for school safety is well below the actual costs.  LHISD needs $180 per student to ensure all current safety initiatives are in place, but it only receives $55 per student.  The difference between total costs and actual funding is $1.3 million.  Prop A funds will be used to cover this cost deficit and allow us to keep our safety initiatives in place.

Armed Officers on Campus - $1,570,706*

Effective September 1, 2023, HB3 requires that “at least one armed security officer be present during regular school hours at each district campus.  This can include a school district police officer, a school resource officer, or a commissioned peace officer.  If the board of trustees of a school district is unable to ensure the above, the board may claim a good cause exception from the requirement to comply if the district's non-compliance is due to the availability of funding or personnel who qualify to serve as security officers.”

The Liberty Hill ISD board of trustees is committed to keeping an armed police officer at each campus, and the funds from Prop A allow the district to keep this commitment.

  • State allocation for 11 campuses = $369,000

  • LHISD Cost for 11 campuses = $933,508

  • LHISD Cost for officer training, supplies, and vehicle maintenance = $85,000

  • LHISD Cost for department budget, Salaries for Chief, Sergeant, and Administrative Assistant = $552,198

Safety Monitoring Systems- up to $354,553*

Liberty Hill ISD uses other safety monitoring systems inside the district to keep kids safe from unauthorized visitors on campus and online threats. These systems include:

Silent Panic Alert Technology (SPAT), School Safety Software = up to $74,000

SPAT technology allows for immediate alerts from classroom teachers to campus leadership and district personnel in the event of an emergency. School safety software screens visitors on campus to make sure only those approved are allowed inside the school building with access to our students.

Device Monitoring = $24,000

Our device monitoring software alerts designated school staff of certain activity on student devices. This includes: violence, mental health concerns, online bullying, self-harm, suicidal ideation, drugs, gangs, grooming, and more.

Cyber Security Staff and Software = $118,000

For safety purposes, LHISD does not disclose our cybersecurity software or staffing details. In general, this category includes: backups, renewals, storage, and personnel.

Safety & Security Coordinator, Crossing Guards, Parking Lot Attendants = $138,553

LHISD has a full-time safety & security coordinator whose job includes everything from emergency operations and drills and training to management of access control and video surveillance. In addition, we have 8 crossing guards and a parking lot attendant who monitors mid-day student activity at Liberty Hill High School.

* Some of these costs are offset but not fully funded by federal grants

Prop A Spending Update:

January 2026

  • Approved the creation of 2 new nurse positions:

    • Lariat Trails Elementary

    • Legacy Ranch Middle School

February 2026

  • Approved the creation of 1 School Resource Officer position.

April 2026

  • Approved the creation of 2 School Resource Officer positions.

  • Approved the addition of 1 parking lot attendant position at Legacy Ranch High School to support student safety and campus operations.

Recruit and Retain Staff - $2.2 Million

Prop A Spending Update:

November 2025

  • Each campus added a paraprofessional to address immediate student needs.

  • Began hiring staff for the opening of:

    • Lariat Trails Elementary

    • Legacy Ranch Middle School

    • Legacy Ranch High School expansion

December 2025

  • An additional 1% raise was applied to December paychecks, with a retroactive settlement issued in January/February.

  • Continued hiring staff in preparation for the opening of new campuses.

  • Conducted a TASB staffing audit.

  • Released updated compensation ranges and teacher pay scales.

  • Continued reviewing long-term staffing and compensation options to ensure sustainability and protect future raises.

New compensation ranges were released for teachers and support staff during November and December 2025.

March 2026

  • Increased the daily substitute RN pay rate to $200 to remain competitive with surrounding districts and improve staffing availability for student health services.

April 2026

  • The Board of Trustees approved a future teacher compensation increase for the 2026–2027 school year.

  • One-time retention stipends were paid to eligible staff in mid-April.

  • Each campus added an additional paraprofessional to address immediate student needs.

  • Liberty Hill ISD hosted a districtwide Job Fair with approximately 150 attendees to support hiring for new campuses and continued district growth.

  • Additional transportation staffing approved included:

    • 1 Transportation Supervisor

    • 7 Bus Drivers

    • 5 Bus Monitors