Richardson | May 2023

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RICHARDSON EDITION

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 9 JUNE 2JUNE 29, 2023

Outdoor tness studio opens on UT Dallas campus

City looks to celebrate 150th anniversary

New owner brings unique air to Bangkok at Beltline

Tiany Dorsey teaches a science class at Richardson ISD’s Apollo Junior High School. (Courtesy Richardson ISD)

District eyeing cost cutting measures, seeking more state funding Richardson ISD ocials are working through a budget de- cit of around $15 million for s- cal year 2022-23 as they face another decit for FY 2023-24. To improve its nancial situa- tion, RISD ocials are exploring several potential solutions, includ- ing increasing student enrollment by allowing more students out- side the district to register, advo- cating for more state funding and trimming costs, both by removing positions and potentially cutting programs throughout the district. Heading into FY 2023-24, dis- trict ocials expect the decit to grow to around $15.8 million. The decit is a result of reduced enrollment, ination and a lack of new funding from the state since before the pandemic, Superintendent Tabitha Bra- num said during the meeting. The issues are not unique to RISD, as many districts across the state are facing similar con- cerns, according to Bob Popinski, CONTINUED ON 13 BY JACKSON KING Richardson ISD dealing with $15M budget decit

$40M grant fuels UT Dallas arts district

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THIS ISSUE

ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Tracy Ruckel

FROM TRACY: The voters have spoken, and Richardson residents now have a new lineup of city and school board leaders—some familiar, some new—that you can learn more about inside (see Pages 10-11). Also in this edition, readers can find out where to get some tasty Thai food around town (see Page 9) and get to know more how a $40 million gift is helping build an arts district on the University of Texas at Dallas’ campus (see Page 12). Tracy Ruckel, GENERAL MANAGER

EDITOR Kevin Cummings REPORTER Jackson King

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FROM KEVIN: Richardson ISD is facing an expected budget deficit of around $15.8 million heading into the upcoming fiscal year. In this edition, readers can find the latest on how district officials are looking to address that while also working to retain teacher talent (see Page 13). In addition, readers can learn more about the construction affecting traffic around town (see Page 7), along with details on how the city is planning to open all of its pools and aquatic centers this summer (see Page 11). Kevin Cummings, EDITOR

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COMING SOON 7 Desi Brothers, a South Asian-style grocery store, is expected to open its rst Dallas-area location in Richardson at the end of June. The company, which started in Austin, will be located at 100 S. Central Expressway, Richardson. Desi Brothers oers a variety of fresh produce, frozen foods and dry goods that focus on the avors and styles found around India and the Middle East, according to the compa- ny’s website. www.desibrothers.com 8 Bualo Wild Wings Go will open in Richardson at 230 W. Campbell Road. The concept focuses on online ordering, takeout and deliveries, and it will have an abbreviated menu of wings, tenders and sandwiches, according to company ocials. The location will include limited seating for dine-in customers and heated lockers for contact-free pickup. No grand opening date has been announced, but a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation ling said construction on the restaurant is expected to be completed July 16. www.bualowildwings.com

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NOW OPEN 1 Royale Shawarma opened May 15 in Richardson’s DFW Chinatown area at 400 N. Greenville Ave., Ste. 20. Royale Sha- warma oers a variety of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, including sha- warma and falafel. https://bit.ly/43579Tu 2 Texas Wildower Smokes and Organics held a grand opening May 13 in the Richland Meadows area. The CBD shop is located at 908 Audelia Road, Ste. 100, in the former location of CBD American Shaman. Texas Wildower sells various CBD- and hemp-based products, including disposables, gummies, prerolls and nico- tine vapes. The company also oers a va- riety of snacks, including chips and sodas from across the world. 972-707-0974. 3 AJ’s Hot Chicken opened in Camp- bell Plaza in Richardson on May 6 at 515 W. Campbell Road, Ste. 111. The spicy chicken restaurant held its grand

5 Krazy4 Smoke and Vape opened in Richardson on May 3 at 1475 E. Belt Line Road, Ste. 200. The Richardson location is the second in the North Texas region for Krazy4, which also has a shop in McKinney at 7701 Stacy Road, Ste. 400. The store oers a variety of tobacco products, including vapes, hookah and CBD items. 214-782-9206. https://krazy-4-smoke-vape.business.site 6 Creeks Wine and Cigar Bar opened April 24 in the II Creeks Plaza of Rich- ardson at 2701 Custer Parkway, Ste. 718. The wine and cigar shop, held a grand opening wine tasting in late May, serves a variety of wine and tobacco products. Creeks Wine and Cigar Bar also oers other goods found in convenience stores, including sodas and snacks. 469-206-6760.

opening event May 13. AJ’s Hot Chick- en oers a variety of fried chicken dishes, including sandwiches, wings, a chicken tender basket and sliders. www.ajshotchickentx.com 4 The University of Texas at Dallas along with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and the National Fitness Campaign opened a Fitness Court Studio on May 4 on the university’s campus. The outdoor tness center, which is located near the university’s Recreation Center at 800 W. Campbell Road, is designed to provide easy access to a full-body workout in only seven minutes. The equipment area uses seven exercise stations that focus on things, such as core, squat, push, lunge, pull, agility and bend. Fitness Court users are encouraged to download the free mobile application, which oers a collec- tion of workout challenges and health kit metrics, according to university ocials. www.nationaltnesscampaign.com

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RELOCATIONS 9 Shish Kabob’s Cafe relocated across the Richardson border to Dallas on April 3. The Mediterranean restaurant is now located at 7879 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, after moving across the street from the previous location at 1498 W. Spring Valley Road, Richard- son. Shish Kabob’s Cafe serves a variety of traditional Mediterranean dishes, including gyros, hummus and numer- ous signature kabobs. 972-680-8989. www.shishkabobcafe.site 10 Rescue Air and Plumbing moved in April from Richardson into a new facility in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas. The air conditioning and plumbing company is now headquartered in Dallas at 9639 Greenville Ave. As part of a push to pro- vide more quality care, Rescue ocials stated on their website they will begin oering electrical and garage door ser- vices for customers later in 2023. Rescue Air oers a variety of air conditioning and plumbing services. 972-201-3253. FEATURED IMPACT RENOVATIONS The driving range at The Golf Ranch is being transformed, according to ownership. Renovations to the golf complex, which is located at 3570 Waterview Parkway, Richardson, include turning 45 bays into covered spaces with Toptracer Technology— the same system used at Topgolf— adding furniture, and adding access to food and beverages. According to ownership, construction began in March and is expected to nish in June. Acquired by Blue Jeans Golf in mid-January, The Golf Ranch’s driving

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75,000 square feet of new space to its National Clinical Diagnostic Laborato- ry. Located at 1155 Kas Drive, Ste. 180, MCI Diagnostic Center provides clinical laboratory testing services to govern- ment entities, including at the state and federal levels. Company ocials said it provides full-service lab testing in all 50 states, processing over 400,000 tests per day. To accommodate the growth, ocials said MCI is looking to add em- ployees across a variety of departments, including executive management, human resources and more. 888-509-5227. https://mcidiagnostics.com CLOSINGS 12 Kute Chill Corner closed its Richard- son restaurant and bar, which was located at 1610 E. Belt Line Road, on March 27. According to documents posted on the restaurant’s door, the landlord termi- nated the location’s lease eective April 21 due to unpaid rent. The Vietnamese restaurant rst opened Nov. 27 and oered a variety of Asian-fusion cuisine, including seafood and oysters. Kute Chill Corner also functioned as a full-service bar and karaoke hangout with the ability to host private parties.

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RICHARDSON EDITION • JUNE 2023

TODO LIST

June events

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JUNE 16 THROUGH 25

Ste. 750, Richardson. 972-739-5080. www.citylinedfw.com/events 23 SEE A TONY AWARDWINNING PERFORMER Chita Rivera, accompanied by her longtime trio, will be performing a concert event as part of the Eisemann Center Presents series for one night only. The Tony Award- winning actress and singer will perform hits from her Broadway career, including songs from “West Side Story” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” The concert will also feature a tribute to composers John Kander, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and others. Tickets can be purchased online. 8 p.m. $77-$92. Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com/ events-tickets 30 CATCH A CLASSIC KIDS FILM Throughout June, the Richardson public library will be screening movies on Friday nights as part of the Family Film Fridays series. Movies include classic G and PG movies, including a showing of ‘80s animated movie “An American Tail” on June 30. All ages are welcome, but parents must accompany children. 3-5 p.m. Free. Richardson Public Library, 900 Civic Center Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4350. www.cor.net/ departments/public-library

event’s description. Showtimes vary. $15-$25. The Core Theatre, 518 West Arapaho Road, Ste. 115, Richardson. 214-930-5338. www.thecoretheatre.org 17 LISTEN TO A BEATLES TRIBUTE BAND The Charles W. Eisemann Center will host a concert from Beatles tribute band the Liverpool Legends. The musical act is composed of four musicians/actors who were put together by Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison, to honor her brother’s legacy. This internationally acclaimed group has sold out performances around the world. Tickets can be purchased online. 8 p.m. $35-$65. Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson. 972-744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com/ events-tickets 21 CRAFT SOME COCKTAILS The Tricky Fish seafood restaurant in Richardson’s CityLine development will host a cocktail class June 21. The class will teach participants how to make two of the restaurant’s signature Woodford Reserve cocktails, alongside a variety of seafood bites from the Tricky Fish menu. Space is limited, with participants advised to register for the event online. 6-7:30 p.m. $40 per person. Tricky Fish, 1251 State St.,

WATCH A BROADWAY MUSICAL The Repertory Company Theatre will be holding several performances of “Footloose, the Musical” in mid- to late June. “Footloose” is a Broadway musical based on the Oscar- and Grammy- nominated lm about a town where no one is allowed to dance, according to the event’s description. This show is part of the theater’s Summer Musical Series, which also includes performances of “Brigadoon” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Tickets can be purchased online or at the box oce. Showtimes vary. $18-$32. Repertory Company Theatre, 770 N. Coit Road, Richardson. 972-690-5029. www.rcttheatre.com 16 THROUGH JULY 16 LEARN RICHARDSON HISTORY WITH A LOCAL PLAY The Core Theatre will host a historical play about the city’s legacy throughout June in honor of Richardson’s 150th anniversary. The show, which was written by Core Theatre founder James Hansen Prince, explores the people and relationships that helped build Richardson into one of the fastest- growing cities in Texas, according to the

Richardson’s 150th anniversary includes a time capsule burial, music and more. FEATURED EVENT COURTESY CITY OF RICHARDSON

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anniversary June 24 with a time capsule burial and live music in the Main Street Plaza. Other activities include recruiting booths from local organizations and kids activities, including bounce houses, water games, and a touch-a-truck event. 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Free (admission). Main Street Plaza, 105 S. Interurban St., Richardson www.richardson150th.com

Find more or submit Richardson events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.

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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

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78 Motorists on US 75 and its access roads may experience nightly delays between Collins Boulevard in Richardson and Plano Parkway in Plano as crews continue con- struction on the bridge for the DART Silver Line that will connect the CityLine/Bush Station to the UTD/Synergy Park Station. Timeline: late 2022-late 2025 Cost: $1.89 billion (entire Silver Line project) Funding source: DART 4 Greenville Avenue/Arapaho Road fiber-optic work The right-turn lane of southbound Greenville Avenue toward westbound Arapaho Road and the sidewalk of west- bound Arapaho Road between Greenville Avenue and US 75 may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily as fiber-optic work takes place. Utility adjustments are paving work when weather permits. The closures will be in effect at all times, with traffic detoured to westbound Arapaho Road, northbound Hampshire Lane and eastbound Rockingham Lane. While the northbound closures are in effect, the southbound lane will remain open. Timeline: May 10-mid-July Cost: $8.6 million Funding sources: 2015 Richardson bond, American Rescue Plan Act funds 3 US 75 bridge construction

ongoing. Timeline: April-mid-August

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Cost: $1.7 million (entire Greenville Ave- nue Multimodal Improvements Project) Funding source: Federal Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program 5 West Prairie Creek Drive rehabilitation Construction continues on West Prairie Creek Drive that includes improvements to street paving, underground utilities and drainage systems. There will also be new curb extensions on Lookout Drive and extra parking enhancements on West Prairie Creek Drive. The plan also calls for the enhancement of the intersection of West Prairie Creek Drive and Lookout Drive to improve safety for pedestrians. The crosswalks at Fall Creek Drive and Arborcrest Drive will also be improved, and a new crosswalk will be added at Ridgewood Drive. During some project stages, the bridge at Prairie Creek Park may not be accessible. Timeline: August 2022-summer 2023 Cost: $7.4 million Funding source: 2015 Richardson bond funds

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ONGOING PROJECTS 1 Silver Line bridge work at Renner Road

BUCKINGHAM RD. Cost: $1.89 billion (entire Silver Line project) Funding source: DART 2 Northbound Custer Road closure at Arapaho Road Starting May 10, all northbound lanes of Custer Road from just north of its intersection with Arapaho Road to Rockingham Lane were closed for waterline, sanitary sewer and concrete

The right and center lanes of eastbound and westbound Renner Road continue to be closed south of Greenside Drive daily from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for work on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Silver Line

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MAY 15. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT RICNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.

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DINING FEATURE

BY KEVIN CUMMINGS

REFRESHING THE MENU

Since taking ownership of Bangkok at Beltline last August, Netnapa “Sky” Prommana has been adding unique northern Thai dishes to the restaurant’s established and Saturday afternoon tea menus. 1 Thai iced green tea ($4.50) (established): This sweet drink is made with milk, jasmine tea and black tea. 2 Bangkok crab stick ($8.95) (established): The deep fried crab sticks feature crab meat, shrimp and chicken in a spring roll wrapper served with a sweet and sour sauce. 3 Tom zapp ($15.95) (new): This soup features braised pork rib made with a spicy and sour broth.

PHOTOS BY KEVIN CUMMINGSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Bangkok at Beltline New owner brings northern Thai air to Richardson restaurant F rom working directly with customers to being the head of a restaurant, Netnapa “Sky” Prommana knows the business inside and out. Starting as a server at Bangkok

After working as a server, Netnapa “Sky” Prommana took ownership of Bangkok at Beltline in 2022.

keeping many of the fan favorites, Prommana is beginning to add new menu items from northern Thailand where she is originally from. It’s a style of Thai cuisine that she said focuses less on using coconut milk and uses chilis that pack a depth of avor rather than just heat. “My partner, he likes to cook and create recipes, so when we work together, we like to make dishes not on the menu,” Prommana said. “We have a passion to represent north- ern Thai food.” Prommana is also bringing new dishes to the restaurant’s Saturday afternoon tea, which mixes Thai cuisine with British high tea. Using her passion for baking, she has

added items to the tea menu to help keep it seasonal and ready for special holidays and parties. Coming out of the pandemic, Prommana said business has slowly returned, noting the restaurant was kept aoat by loyal customers and helpful neighboring tenants. As she looks to make Bangkok at Beltline her own, Prommana said she hopes to continue the restau- rant’s previous success while adding her own unique air. She also said she’s looking to bring back the restaurant’s alcohol license while still keeping BYOB as an option. “[Customers] like our recipes, and that drives me to be passionate about it,” Prommana said.

Bangkok at Beltline 100 S. Central Expressway, Ste. 108, Richardson 469-930-9755 www.bangkokbeltline.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. noon-9:30 p.m.

at Beltline, Prommana took over as owner last August. Now, she’s using her experience and culture to create new dishes and bring fresh ideas to the table. “I love the restaurant; it’s not just for work,” Prommana said. “This is like a place of memories; we know a lot of our customers.” Prior to her taking over, Bang- kok at Beltline served the type of Thai dishes that many customers would be familiar with. While

W. BELT LINE RD.

RICHARDSON EDITION • JUNE 2023

CITY & SCHOOLS

News from Richardson, Richardson ISD & Collin College

Richardson City Council meets June 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 6 p.m. Due to a re at City Hall, council meetings have been temporarily relocated to the Richardson Police Department at 600 N. Greenville Ave. www.cor.net Richardson ISD board of trustees meets June 8 at 6 p.m. at the RISD Administration Building, 400 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson. The meetings are streamed live online at www.risd.org. MEETINGS WE COVER or a $5,000 minimum. Property tax exemptions were raised to $100,000 for residents age 65 and older as well as residents with disabilities. Previously, the homestead exemption was 1% or a $5,000 minimum, and the property tax exemption was between $20,000-$30,000. HIGHLIGHTS COLLIN COLLEGE New tax exemption rates are set for qualifying Collin County residents. The increase in the local homestead and property exemptions will save taxpayers $8.2 million in the rst year, according to the college’s board of trustees. The homestead exemption is now set at 20% of a home’s appraised value

Mayor, newcomers join incumbents on City Council BY JACKSON KING

RISD incumbents win re-election

Richardson pools slated to be fully open this summer

CITY COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS

In the election, 8.04% of registered voters in Collin County cast ballots, while 8.84% did in Dallas County.

BY KEVIN CUMMINGS

CITY MAYOR Bob Dubey Janet DePuy 51.58% 48.42%

RICHARDSON ISD Incumbents Debbie Rentería and Eric Eager will serve new terms on the board of trustees. In the May 6 election, Rentería faced challenger Bonnie Abadie in the single-member District 3 race, while in the at-large Place 6 election, Blake Sawyer challenged Eager. Rentería received 64.69% of votes, while Eager received 56.72% of votes. Board members serve three-year staggered terms and are not subject to term limits. Five of the seven seats on the board are chosen by registered voters of specic districts, while the remaining two seats are elected at large by all voters. This voting system is the result of a lawsuit settled in early 2019 that accused the board of Voting Rights Act violations. Rentería and Eager were both rst elected in 2020.

Incumbent Ken Hutchenrider won out against Todd Hunter to earn his re-election bid for the City Council Place 5 seat with over 66% of total votes. “I’m very humbled to have such overwhelming support from the peo- ple of Richardson,” Hutchenrider said. “I’m excited to continue my work and service to our community in a very transparent and communicative fashion with all of our community.” In the mayoral race, Dubey earned 4,909 total votes, or 51.58%, while DePuy received 48.42% of votes. Incumbents Jennifer Justice, Joe Corcoran and Aren Shamsul won re-election uncontested for City Council places 2, 4 and 6, respectively. The mayor and all council members are elected to two-year terms with no member allowed to serve more than six consecutive two-year terms in any place, according to city ocials.

BY JACKSON KING

RICHARDSON Following the May 6 election, Richardson has a new mayor and two new members joining four returning incumbents on City Council. In the race to ll the Place 1 seat left open by Bob Dubey, who was elected mayor, Curtis Dorian earned just over 54% of total votes to beat opponent G. Scott Waddell. Dan Barrios defeated Stephen Springs with over 64% of the vote for the City Council Place 3 seat, which was left open as Janet DePuy challenged Dubey. “This campaign from day one has always been about people,” Barrios said. “I’m honored that I have this kind of support and that the com- munity came out in great numbers to vote. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to serving Richardson in this new capacity.”

RICHARDSON Residents will have full use of all neighborhood pools and The Heights Family Aquatic Center for the rst time since 2019, accord- ing to a May 1 City Council meeting. The pools and aquatics center were either closed or opened in a limited capacity due to the pandemic and stang shortages, despite Richardson Parks and Recreation ocials oering bonuses

The Heights Family Aquatic Center re-opens this summer after being closed last season.

COURTESY CITY OF RICHARDSON

PLACE 1 G. Scott Waddell

and other incentives. According to city ocials, it takes three times as many lifeguards to operate the aquatic center compared to other pool facilities. This year, city ocials announced 114 aquatics positions were lled for

the summer, including all 79 life- guards that are required. City ocials said increasing pay for various positions, paying for lifeguard certications and a holiday hiring push helped attract and retain workers for this summer. with the rest expected to come from a $16.5 million insurance settlement and more than $22 million in 2021 bond funding. No tax rate increase is associated with the bond, according to city ocials. Construction is expected to begin in 2024 and nish by 2026.

Curtis Dorian 45.96% 54.04% PLACE 3 Dan Barrios

Stephen Springs 64.36% 35.64%

Voters approve $46M bond for new city hall

PLACE 5 Todd Hunter

RICHARDSON With a bond approved, Richardson is set to get a new City Hall. In Collin and Dallas counties, 69.7% of voters cast ballots in favor of BY JACKSON KING

the bond. The measure will raise $46 million to help pay for the construction of a new City Hall at its existing location following an August re. The money would cover a portion of the costs,

33.78% 66.22%

Ken Hutchenrider*

*INCUMBENT SOURCES: COLLIN COUNTY, DALLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

DALLAS 9500 North Central Expressway (214) 369-2800 ADDISON 15055 Inwood Road (972) 239-5891

DEVELOPMENT

UT Dallas receives $40M donation for arts school, cultural district

BY JACKSON KING

According to Roemer, the rst phase of the Athenaeum, which includes a second location for the Crow Museum of Asian Art and a parking garage, is expected to be unveiled by the start of the fall 2024 semester with the performance venue opening a year later. The combined arts, humanities and technology school, which opened during the 2022 fall semester, was created to expand previously oered arts-centered education. A portion of the gift will also accelerate construction of the second phase of the upcoming 12-acre Ath- enaeum. With the rst phase under construction, the second phase of the project includes a 53,000-square-foot performance venue with a 600-seat concert hall, choral and orchestra rehearsal rooms, classrooms, and oce space.

The University of Texas at Dallas’ School of Arts, Humanities and Technology plans to use a $40 million donation from the Bass Founda- tion to expand and help fund the construction of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, a cultural district on the university’s campus. As part of the donation, which will help provide scholarships and fel- lowships, the school will be renamed the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. “The impact of this gift is quite transformative,” said Nils Roemer, Bass School dean as well as the arts, humanities and technology distinguished university chair, in a news release. “This will allow us to accelerate the building of our new performance hall, and … empower our students and our faculty with better programming.”

Construction on the new Crow Museum of Asian Art in the Athenaeum is anticipated to be completed in fall 2024. (Rendering courtesy The University of Texas at Dallas) BUILDING A

MAY 2022: Initial construction begins for Athenaeum SPRING 2023: Funding received to accelerate Athenaeum performance hall construction FALL 2024: Expected opening of Crow Museum of Asian Art and parking garage

CULTURAL DISTRICT Announced in 2022, the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum will be a new cultural district on approximately 12 acres of The University of Texas at Dallas campus.

LOOP RD.

FALL 2025: Expected completion of UT Dallas performance hall

UNIVERSITY PKWY.

ARMSTRONG DR.

W. CAMPBELL RD.

SOURCE: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS COMMUNITY IMPACT

JOIN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY NORTH DALLAS • RICHARDSON

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FINANCIAL CHALLENGES Since the start of the pandemic, Richardson ISD has faced challenges in balancing its budget, with the district facing a financial deficit of around $15 million in fiscal year 2022-23. CHARTING ENROLLMENT INFLATION AND STATE SPENDING

One of Richardson ISD’s main concerns as it tries to overcome a budget deficit is a decrease in enrollment. Demographers expect the district to have nearly 1,800 fewer students within its boundaries by the 2025-26 school year. Enrollment is a major factor in how much state revenue a district receives.

Since 2019, the state of Texas has not raised its per-student spending despite inflation, ranking 42nd among other states.

Basic allotment

Adjustment for inflation

X $6,160** per student Student body

District's cost per student

Enrolled students*

Decrease from 2019-20: 6% .

Projected decrease from 2022-23: 7% .

$10K $12K

10K 20K 50k 30K 40K

$2K $4K $6K $8K

Total funding for the district

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25 2025-26

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

SOURCES: DAVIS DEMOGRAPHICS, RICHARDSON ISD, U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR AND STATISTICS, STATE OF TEXAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT *NUMBERS ARE BASED ON STUDENTS ENROLLED WITHIN RICHARDSON ISD BOUNDARIES. **THIS AMOUNT INCREASES OR DECREASES DEPENDING ON ATTENDANCE FIGURES, SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS AND MANY OTHER FACTORS.

Recapture is when excess property tax revenue is collected and redistributed to other districts by the Texas Education Agency. Richardson ISD expects to send more than $4 million in recapture funds to the state this year.

UNDERSTANDING RECAPTURE FUNDING STRUCTURE

as it’s a major factor in the district’s state funding formula. According to a report by educational consulting firm Davis Demographics, enrollment within RISD’s boundaries has decreased by over 2,000 students since 2019. In the 2022-23 school year, RISD had 36,232 students enrolled within its boundaries. The report also stated in-boundary enrollment is expected to continue decreasing over the next decade, with the 2032-33 school year having a pro- jected enrollment of under 30,000. State officials set the operating tax rate annually that districts can col- lect based on a formula that includes the number of students attending school each day and assessments of property values within a district. In March, RISD trustees discussed creating an open-enrollment pro- gram that would increase enrollment of students outside the district. According to district officials, RISD has nearly 9,400 seats available at its elementary schools. At the basic state allotment, filling those seats would provide the district with almost $69 million in state revenue. “I think having a conversation about how public schools can trans- fer students between districts is important to have,” Popinski said. “We want to make sure that school districts are able to … have enough [students] and enough quality teach-

CONTINUED FROM 1

senior director of policy of Raise Your Hand Texas, an educational advo- cacy nonprofit. “Double-digit inflation ... has led to increased costs of operating school districts,” Popinski said. “We’ve also seen districts trying to raise teacher salaries to keep pace with inflation, leading to a loss in buying power.” This year, RISD trustees approved a salary increase for teachers and staff members to help with recruit- ment and retention that will cost more than $20 million if the district is fully staffed. The measure increased starting teacher salaries to $60,000, while returning teachers would receive a 5.75%-8% salary increase, depending on experience. No decision has been made on whether to use the district’s $170 mil- lion balance from the general fund to offset the budget deficit. A large factor in the 2022-23 budget deficit RISD is facing is a lack of state funding, Branum said. According to Raise Your Hand Texas officials, the per-student basic allotment of $6,160 provided by the state to school dis- tricts has not increased since 2019. Meanwhile, from June 2019 to February 2023, inflation in Texas increased 17%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, the state’s Legislative Budget Board estimated in 2022 that school funding was at 2014 levels when adjusted for inflation. Adding enrollment Increasing enrollment is a top pri- ority for RISD’s FY 2023-24 budget

Combined revenue This basic allotment per student must be met by both district and TEA funding.

Excess local revenue When a district has more property tax revenue than it needs for funding, the TEA recaptures it.

Property tax revenue The TEA takes excess revenue and redistributes it to poorer districts.

TOTAL FUNDING NEEDED

TEA contribution

Property tax revenue

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

According to David Pate, RISD assistant superintendent of finance and support services, district offi- cials reduced expenses during FY 2022-23 by $1.2 million by elimi- nating 14 administrative positions and cutting staff for its English as a second language program. Pate said the district expects to see around $3.7 million in additional cost saving measures in FY 2023-24. To find more ways to save costs, RISD trustees plan to create a com- munity steering committee for input on the FY 2024-25 budget. The committee would begin meet- ing in July, and work to review programming options and district-op- erated services. Branum said the com- mittee is expected to present findings in late 2023. “We need to hear from our com- munity and from our staff on how we prioritize programs,” Branum said. One area where district officials are forced to spend is the state’s recapture allocation. Recapture redistributes

local excess property taxes from dis- tricts to those deemed “property poor” by the Texas Education Agency. According to the TEA’s Recapture Cost report, RISD is expected to send over $4 million from its collected prop- erty tax to the state for FY 2022-23. While RISD continues to send money to the state annually, it has also been pushing legislators to use an estimated $32 billion budget surplus to assist public education. According to RISD officials, legisla- tive discussions didn’t reflect the true rise of inflation to increase the basic allotment by at least $900 per student. “We had hoped that this was going to be a legislative session that was going to provide a little bit more [funding] relief,” Branum said. “Even with that in mind, we knew that it would not solve all of the financial challenges that we have.”

ers in place.” Cutting costs

To be financially flexible, the RISD board began seeking to cut costs in early 2023 while staying away from cutting programs that affect students.

For more information, visit communityimpact.com .

RICHARDSON EDITION • JUNE 2023

REAL ESTATE

Snapshot of the market

MARKET DATA FOR APRIL

HOMES SOLDAVERAGE DAYS ON THE MARKET 75080

PGBT TOLL

75081

75082

$900,000+

4/47

1/195

$800,000-$899,000

1/8

75080

NUMBER OF NEW LISTINGS 2022 2023

$700,000-$799,999

4/49

2/5

$600,000-$699,999

3/20

3/17

ARAPAHO RD.

$500,000-$599,999

8/57

1/1

5/36

47 51 36 30

75081

$400,000-$499,999

12/28

6/6

9/19

75080

$300,000-$399,999

12/3

14/14

$200,000-$299,999

4/12

75081

Less than $199,999

HOMES ON THE MARKET BY CITY 2022

21 20 NUMBER OF HOMES UNDER CONTRACT 2022 2023

75082

MEDIAN PRICE OF HOMES SOLD WITH YEAROVERYEAR PERCENTAGE CHANGE

2022 2023

2023

75080

75081

75082

237 250 86 87 15 20 187 216

Sale price

Plano

$650,000

Richardson

36 43 33 27 21 21

$600,000

75080

$550,000

Murphy

$500,000

75081

15.26%

$450,000

Garland

0.81%

$400,000

75082

$350,000

2.22%

$300,000 $0

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RICHARDSON EDITION • JUNE 2023

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RICHARDSON EDITION • JUNE 2023

IT’S TIME FOR YOUR AC MAINTENANCE

RESCUE AIR IS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

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214-247-7711 Rescue Me Hotline www.RescueAirTx.com

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