BY EMILY LINCKE
What they’re saying
What’s next
Path to the ballot
2024
The FY 2024-25 budget is the third consecutive fiscal year that MISD has a budget with a shortfall. Since MISD trustees passed the FY 2024-25 budget with a $4.3 million general fund gap, if the VATRE is not approved, staff cuts will not be made until the 2025-26 school year, according to Ruffin’s Sept. 23 town hall presentation. “When you [cut employees], you start as far away from the classroom as you can, but ... some of those services that those support staff provide, if they’re not there providing that, guess where those roles and responsibilities now fall?” Ruffin said. “Our classroom teachers.” The Texas Legislature is set to begin its 89th session Jan. 14, and more public school funding is slated to be considered, Greater Houston-area legislators said, as previously reported by Community Impact .
MISD leaders answered questions about the VATRE submitted by community members during a Sept. 23 town hall. Lujuana Haggerty—a parent of multiple MISD graduates—said she will vote in favor of the VATRE in November. During the town hall, MISD resident Ruben Hines did not say how he’ll be voting concerning the VATRE, but did express concern that the VATRE won’t bring enough money in three to five years if the Texas Legislature doesn’t approve more public school funding. Texas legislators have not increased the district’s basic allotment—which is $6,160 per stu- dent—since 2019, and measures to provide districts with additional funding did not materialize in the last legislative session in 2023. “My biggest fear, if we do pass Proposition A, … [is] they’ll cut even more despite the fact that we have Proposition A,” Hines said.
May 7: MISD trustees order an efficiency audit for the voter-approval tax rate election ballot initiative June 28: MISD board passes the FY 2024-25 budget that includes a $4.3M general fund shortfall Aug. 6: Trustees hear results of mandatory VATRE efficiency audit Aug. 19: Trustees call VATRE to be held in November Sept. 23: MISD holds open house on VATRE Oct. 21: Early voting begins
Nov. 5: Election Day
2025
Jan. 14: The 89th Texas legislative session begins
SOURCE: MONTGOMERY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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