Education
BY ELLE BENT
AISD officials working around budget deficit As Austin ISD officials plan for the fiscal year 2024-25, district officials are working amid a projected budget shortfall. Current situation Superintendent Matias Segura said that because the basic student allotment—the amount school districts receive from the state based on student enrollment and attendance—did not increase this year and hasn’t since 2019, cuts would have to be made alongside any proposed budget increases for fiscal year 2024-25. The basic allotment is currently at $6,160. AISD officials say current enrollment is at 72,800, with a 92% attendance rate. Going forward with budget planning, district officials will keep the following in mind: • Lowering the 20% fund balance would be “risky” due to decreasing enrollment
ACC proposes free tuition program
The district is working to lessen the deficit through the following: Decreasing the deficit Vacancy savings, or costs saved by a staff position that is not filled
Austin Community College officials are working toward the potential launch of a free tuition program. The overview The proposal would create a zero-cost tuition program for high school seniors who graduate from local school districts and those who have completed General Educa- tion Development, or GED. If the proposal is approved by the board of trustees, set to be voted on April 1, eligible students could qualify for up to five years of free tuition beginning this fall. The program would include Credit and Continuing Education courses and would be paid for with funds already available within ACC’s budget in addition to state appropria- tions from House Bill 8.
Managing overtime expenses Monitoring contract expenses Interest earnings
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
• Adopting a shortfall greater than $30 million would put the district at risk of going below the fund balance in FY 2026-27, but decreasing the projected shortfall to $25 million or less would require multiple budget cuts What’s next? This spring, district officials will propose investments and potential cuts, such as staff, for the FY 2024-25 budget as it is being drafted. The AISD board of trustees will vote on the budget in June.
Nominated for 7 Tony® Awards including BEST MUSICAL!
THE MUSICAL THE PROM
Suzanne Cordiero
Begins April 3 | zachtheatre.org/prom
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Carolyn and Marc Seriff Bettye Nowlin
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