Education
Cy-Fair ISD to ask Texas Legislature for more funding
The third-largest school district in Texas has rolled out its legislative priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature, which convenes in January. All four priorities are focused on securing additional funding for public schools. At an Oct. 7 board meeting, Cy-Fair ISD trustee Justin Ray said he developed the priorities alongside Superintendent Doug Killian, Chief of Sta Teresa Hull and General Counsel Marney Sims. “The next legislative session could be the most consequential for school funding for a very long time. CFISD will be leaders among school districts by robustly advocating for school funding with legislators at home and in Austin,” Ray said. The big picture CFISD’s legislative priorities include increasing the amount of funding the state provides to school districts in:
• School safety • Special education • Transportation
Cy-Fair ISD funding gaps, FY 202425 State funding received Cy-Fair ISD's Total
additional spending
Ray said some of these funding formulas have not been updated since the 1980s or 1990s, and the state’s portion of funding is not meeting the district’s needs. Additionally, the district is requesting the Texas Legislature fully fund districts oering a local optional homestead exemption. CFISD oers a 20% local optional homestead exemption that Chief Financial Ocer Karen Smith said saves the average homeowner $750 on their annual tax bill. However, the district’s reduction in taxable value results in a loss of $91 million in property tax revenue, Ray said, and the state does not make up for this loss. CFISD ocials are asking the Legislature not to penalize them for oering this exemption.
Special education
$157M
$99.37M School safety
$57.65M
$51.9M
$2.4M $49.5M Transportation
$46M
$8M $38M
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Get involved Learn more about each of these issues and about how to reach local legislators at www.csd.net/89leg.
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