2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
national average for per-pupil spending and in the bottom 10 in the nation. “As far as school funding goes, it’s going to be one of the key issues that’s going to be discussed with a $27 billion-plus surplus in the current [Texas] budget,” Popinski said. “There’s going to be a big conversation of ... how we move the system and funding forward.” To more properly fund school districts, RYHT recommends increasing the basic allotment to more than $7,000 per student. As school districts plan budgets every year, the organization is also asking the Legislature to implement an automatic in ation adjustment tied to that basic allotment. FBISD o cials said that adjustment could help address the shortfall. “If they do [add an adjustment], then it would be able to do enough to cover raises, not just for teachers, but also for other sta and to help address the de cit,” Bassett said.
Future Road map Fort Bend ISD will spend the next several months guring out how to tackle the budget de cit.
Savings identified Fort Bend ISD has earmarked $2.27 million in annual savings so far. O cials said they may have identi ed $21 million more, but those items are under review. $2.27M
DESCRIPTION
ANNUAL SAVINGS
Cenergistics contract bridge
$1M
Academy bus route recon guration
$400K $200K $190K $180K $160K $80K $20K
Change graduation venue
2018
Voters approve $993M bond
Match color copy clicks to actual usage
2021
Phase two bond does not make it to the ballot
Close admin annex
Summer school staggered start
2022 (March- June )
FBISD announces intent for bond, tax rate election on November ballot
Close teacher center
GT testing (electronic SIG materials)
Software reductions
$20K
$20.63M
Aug. 15
District announces intentions to postpone bond and move forward with tax rate election
Estimated savings as of Nov. 30
$2.27M
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
necessary statewide as districts look to meet their needs while state funds have stagnated, said Bob Popinski, director of policy at education nonpro t Raise Your Hand Texas. This is because the state provides districts a basic allotment of $6,160 per student with formula adjustments putting the average payment at about $10,000 per student, Popinski said. That places Texas $4,000 behind the
Legislative priority FBISD was among the districts looking to pass tax rate increases or approve bond propositions in November. While Katy ISD joined FBISD in failing to pass a tax rate increase, Lamar CISD had three bond propositions approved worth $1.5 billion for safety and security, buildings and technology. These measures have become more
Aug. 22
Board of trustees calls a tax rate election
Nov. 8
Tax rate election proposition fails during midterms
2023 June
FBISD board of trustees approves 2023-24 budget
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
SOURCES: FORT BEND ISD, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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