HEARNE — Hearne ISD trustees approved the district’s 2026 tax rate, received a perfect financial accountability score and made several changes to purchasing procedures during two meetings held August 24. The district began with a public hearing on its budget and proposed tax rate. Officials said Hearne ISD was not proposing an increase from the tax rate adopted in June. Much of the discussion focused on property values, state funding and the effect attendance and enrollment have on district finances. Officials explained that higher local property tax collections do not always mean more money for the district because state funding can decrease as local collections rise. Homestead exemptions also continue to affect the district’s tax base. Information presented during the hearing showed nearly half of Hearne ISD’s 1,565 homesteads pay no school property tax because exemptions reduce their taxable value to zero. District officials also discussed rising operating costs while state funding has remained relatively flat. Attendance and enrollment remain important because both directly affect the amount of state funding the district receives. During the special meeting, trustees received good news concerning the district’s financial accountability rating. Hearne ISD earned a score of 100, which officials described as the first perfect financial rating in district history. The board also approved the district’s 2026 tax rate. The maintenance and operations rate was set at $0.6669 per $100 of taxable value, while the interest and sinking rate was approved at $0.1800. The combined rate is $0.8469 per $100 of taxable value. Trustees also agreed to continue using RBC Royal Bank of Canada as the district’s financial adviser for another year. Several purchasing changes were approved as well. The board increased the district’s micro-purchase threshold to $49,999, giving administrators more flexibility when making certain purchases through cooperative programs. The district also approved participation in the Southwest Texas Purchasing Cooperative and Central Texas Purchasing Alliance. Those programs allow Hearne ISD to use contracts that have already gone through competitive bidding, potentially saving both money and staff time.