Education
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ & BROOKE SJOBERG
RRISD deficit nearly doubled for 2023-24 school year
Travis Early College renovations begin Austin ISD officials, Travis Early College High School representatives, students and staff celebrated a groundbreaking at Travis ECHS on Nov. 8. The overview The groundbreaking marks the start of a modernization project of the high school, funded by the voter-approved $2.44 billion 2022 bond program. The renovations include modernized learning spaces, outdoor learning areas, security upgrades, additional counseling and mental health facilities, and improved athletic and fine arts facilities. The project in South Austin will cost $252.21 million, and the new high school is expected to open for the 2028-29 school year, according to district officials.
A final budget update for fiscal year 2023-24 shows Round Rock ISD’s projected budget shortfall doubled to $37 million. Initially estimated around $19 million, Chief Financial Officer Dennis Covington said the shortfall increase was due to a variety of factors, including higher than anticipated expenses and reduced revenues. What you need to know A reduction in federal reimbursement for special education services, reduced property values, higher program costs and more employees qualifying for stipends than anticipated are just a few of several factors that caused the district’s budget deficit to increase by about $18 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year, Covington said in a Nov. 21 board meeting. “A good thing, but not good for your budget—we had more teachers complete the reading academy, so they earned the stipends,” Covington said.
Decreased revenues • $600,000 reduction in current year property tax collections • $300,000 reduction in prior year property tax collections • $6.5 million in lost reimbursement from special education funding Increased expenses • $2 million in underestimated salary increases • $3.9 million in special education stipends and services • $1.5 million for substitute teachers • $1.2 million stipends for other teachers • $500,000 to fund student competitions in extracurriculars • $900,000 for higher than planned retiree payout and insurance deductibles Budget adjustments The district received $7.4 million less in revenue and expended $10 million more than expected for fiscal year 2023-24.
SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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