Local districts navigate school year as costs rise From the cover
What’s happening?
Hays, San Marcos CISD budget shortfalls since 2019
Hays CISD budget
San Marcos CISD budget
Projected shortfall
The Texas Legislature designated $4 billion for public education funding in the 88th legislative session. The funding failed to pass due to lawmakers tying increases in basic allotment funding to the approval of an educational saving account program, which would have provided public funds to families who enroll their children in private schools, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . The basic allotment for each student—$6,160— has not changed since 2019, while inflation has increased by 22%, HCISD Superintendent Eric Wright said. With a $6.2 million shortfall, HCISD officials said it is unsustainable for the district to continue dipping into its fund balance. SMCISD has been taking steps to cut costs for FY 2024-25 by the board of trustees approving attrition—or not refilling nonessential positions— a hiring freeze for noninstructional positions among other measures. SMCISD is expecting a nearly $18 million budget shortfall in FY 2024-25. If the VATRE is approved by voters, the increased tax rate of $1.0152 could help the district receive an additional $2.7 million-$2.8 million in funding every year.
FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21
FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
$0
-$6.29M
-$5M -$10M -$15M -$20M -$25M -$30M
-$17.62M
-$14.92M if VATRE is approved.
Projected fiscal year 2024-25 shortfall per student
Austin ISD
Comal ISD Dripping Springs ISD Hays CISD San Marcos CISD
$0
-$566
-$266
-$324
-$500
-$806
-$1,000
-$1,500
-$2,118
-$2,000
-$2,500
SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, SAN MARCOS CISD, HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The impact
What the experts say
FY 2024-25 budget breakdown Hays CISD
Gov. Greg Abbott said there are several reasons why schools are facing budget shortfalls. “One is that public schools received extraordinary funding from the federal government for COVID recovery, and that federal funding is no longer available,” Abbot said in a letter to Texas House Democrats, also stating that he cares about improving public schools, but the school choice program needs to pass to secure the funding. “If the governor doesn’t release the hostages as I call [them]—the dollars—then we would be forced to have committee meetings and decide which programs or which staff might be asked to [be] repurposed or removed,” Wright said. SMCISD Chief of Communications Andrew Fer- nandez said officials are trying to find a solution that does not impact one department or program. “I don’t think there’s any one program and one department where we’re like, ‘This is going to be cut next year.’ It’s more of a holistic approach,” Fernandez said. “How can we cut a little bit here and there so that no one feels a big impact?”
Bob Popinski, senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas, said districts across the state are seeing stagnant or declining enrollment numbers, causing them to have to make tough choices. “In some instances it’s, ‘Hey, we’re [going to] have to close some schools, we’re [going to] have to cut back on programs that we know are benefi- cial to our kids,’” Popinski said.
Revenue
$232.25M
Expenditures
Other expenses: $28.82M
Personnel: $209.72M
Projected shortfall: $6.29M
Enrollment in local districts
Hays CISD
San Marcos CISD
San Marcos CISD
25K
Revenue
$85.31M $85.31M
20K 15K 10K 5K 0
+12.12%
Expenditures
Personnel: $80.85M
Other expenses: $22.08M
+1.06%
2019- 20
2020- 21
2021- 22
2022- 23
2023- 24
Projected shortfall: $17.62M
School year
SOURCES: HAYS CISD, SAN MARCOS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
22
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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