San Marcos - Buda - Kyle Edition | July 2025

Education

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & ELISABETH JIMENEZ

Hays, San Marcos school districts OK budgets as funding changes loom

Legislative impact

Neither district’s budget included detailed information about staff compensation plans due to House Bill 2, as districts are still awaiting full guidance and funding clarity. According to officials with the Texas Education Agency, further guidance is expected to be released later this summer or in early fall. When in place, HB2 will provide teachers with the following annual salary increases based on their years of experience: • $2,500 salary increase for teachers with 3-4 years of experience • $5,000 for teachers with 5 or more years of experience The bill also includes raising the basic allotment, or the per-student funding amount school districts receive, by $55, increasing the current basic allotment to $6,215. Additional funding includes money for school safety, special education, other non-administrative staff and more.

The HCISD board approved a budget of over $377.50 million, funded by local, state and federal sources. The district used $11.46 million of its fund balance reserves to close a projected shortfall. The SMCISD board approved a budget of $88.06 million based on revenues, but anticipates a $6.59 million shortfall due to an estimated $94.64 million in expenditures. Reserve funds are expected to cover the gap. Both HCISD and SMCISD officials said they expect to amend their budgets later this summer, noting that they are awaiting additional guidance from state agencies on tax rates, property values and the impacts of the 89th Texas Legislature.

Budget breakdown

HCISD SMCISD

See how each district’s budget stacks up—from student count to spending and reserve use.

Student population 24,036 students

8,093 students

Projected revenues

$377.50 million

$88.06 million

Projected expenditures

$377.5 million

$94.65 million

Reserves used/shortfall

$11.46 million

$6.59 million

SOURCE: HAYS CISD, SAN MARCOS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Advertise in the

Education Edition

ADS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM PRINT + DIGITAL PACKAGES | DIRECT MAIL

11

SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION

Powered by