Education
BY SHAHERYAR KHAN
Comal ISD adopts $450.7M budget with $23.6M shortfall for FY 2024-25
General funds revenue Local revenue: $221.6M
Federal aid: $2M State aid: $77.7M
Total $301.3M
The Comal ISD board of trustees adopted a budget for fiscal year 2024-25 at a public meeting on June 27. The $450.7 million budget covers the general fund, debt service fund and child nutrition fund, as outlined by CISD Chief Financial Officer Glenn Graham. Graham said this budget reflects investments in: • Academic success • Safety • Employee retention The budget also includes: • 3% salary increases for staff • Adjustments for inflation • Provisions for increased property values However, the district is facing a shortfall in each of its primary funds, Graham said. A closer look The primary sources of revenue for CISD’s general fund are property taxes, state aid and federal aid. The proposed tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is $1.0869 per $100 valuation, with the maintenance and operations tax rate at $0.7369, and the debt service tax rate at $0.35. The budget was crafted under the assumption of an enrollment of 30,235 students and an average daily attendance of 27,907 students. Property values are projected to increase by 8.1%, with a 98.2% collection rate.
What else? The proposed budget includes significant investments in staffing and compensation: • $8.06 million in staffing requests • $7.45 million in compensation requests, includ- ing a 3% overall salary increase Despite the projected shortfalls, the district aims to address growth, and maintain quality education and services, Graham said. What they’re saying “This is probably, in my experience, the most difficult budget season,” CISD board President Russ Garner said. Garner expressed disappointment, noting state legislators prioritized diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools instead of adequately funding public education. “I’m very displeased with state legislation,” CISD board member Amanda Jones said. “I hope that [state legislators] are watching, not only [CISD], but all across the state of Texas.” Tim Hennessee, vice president of Comal ISD, expressed frustration with unfunded mandates from the state, highlighting the district’s commit- ment to safety and security despite insufficient state funding. “It’s very frustrating to know that we are just trying our darnedest to grow these kids and grow greatness here, Hennessee said. “We’re just not seeing that support from Austin, Texas and our legislatures.”
General funds expenditure Instruction: $178.5M
Other expenses: $90.1M
Total $320.16M
Plant maintenance & operations: $36M School leadership: $15.6M
Budgets for debt service fund and child nutrition fund
Revenue
Expenditure
$120M
$100M
$80M
$60M
$40M
$20M
$0
Debt service fund
Child nutrition fund
SOURCE: COMAL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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