Bastrop - Cedar Creek Edition | April 2024

Education

BY JANE TURCHI

Bastrop ISD adjusts FY 2024 25 planned budget by $7.6M to address shortfall

Budget adjustments More than $7.6 million in adjustments were made to the projected 2024-25 budget to address the $7.8 million shortfall.

Revenue

Expenses

Following adjustments to Bastrop ISD’s planned budget for scal year 2024-25, a $188,000 shortfall remains, o cials said at the April 16 board meet- ing. The adjustments follow funding changes that left the district with a $7.8 million shortfall under the previously planned budget. The budget is based on a total revenue of $128 million expected for the 2024-25 year. What happened The 88th Texas Legislature failed to pass a funding increase bill, leaving Texas school districts with the same basic allotment as in 2019, despite ination. The expiration of federal COVID-19 recovery funds known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief as well as over $400,000 lost in federal Medicaid reimbursement funding have also impacted the budget, o cials said. Current situation In response to the reduced funds, district depart- ments have been asked to reduce their budgets by 15%. Budget cuts would also impact Multi-Tiered Systems of Support coaches and social worker programs in the district. “These kids need these services, and I am painfully aware of that,” board member Pricilla Ruiz said. Teachers and parents voiced concerns about the reduction of behavioral services as well as gifted and talented programs to accommodate the budget at the April 16 school board meeting. “Basically, we’re cutting programs that will

help to prepare our students to be successful members of society and oering the bare mini- mum, which is against what the district stands for: the future,” BISD parent Kayla Russell said at the meeting. Other budget reductions were made by utilizing grant and general funds where possible. The reduction of retire/rehire teachers positions will also be made gradually. Campus budgets were not reduced. The district’s remaining ESSER funds were utilized in the budget to help address the shortfall. When possible, expen- ditures were prepaid by with the FY 2023-24

Original planned budget for FY2024-25

$7.8M shortfall

$128M

$135.8M

Adjusted budget for FY2024-25 $128M

$188K shortfall

$128.2M

SOURCE: BASTROP ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

budget, Edgar said. On the bright side

“By cutting these programs from our campuses you are starving us of the resources that we depend on to stay a oat.” TONI MALONE, BASTROP FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT

BISD attendance rates are up, which will have a positive impact on state funding coming into the district, Chief Financial O cer Dina Edgar said at the April 16 school board meeting. The district has a projected average daily attendance of 11,915 for the 2024-25 school year—an over 3% increase from this school year. “We started out with a disadvantage, but we’re faring as well if not better than most districts that have a better advantage over us,” Edgar said. A return to prepandemic attendance levels would result in an $2 million increase in funding for the district, Edgar said at the meeting. Looking ahead The proposed FY 2024-25 budget will be presented May 21 followed by a public hearing

for budget adoption June 18. The district’s ninth and 10th elementary schools have been approved in the 2023 bond. The district plans to delay the opening of one school by a year to stagger the strain of startup costs on the annual budget, school board Presi- dent Ashley Mutschink said at the meeting.

BASTROP EDITION