Education
Bryan ISD eyes potential shortfall
The options
Trustees and administrators are also evaluating long-term revenue options, including a possible voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE in November. Currently, the district’s M&O tax rate sits at $0.9469 per $100 valuation. For a home valued at $350,000, with a taxable property value of $210,000, homeowners pay around $1,988 in annual taxes. A 2-cent increase to the M&O tax rate would cause those bills to go up by $42 annually, docu- ments show.
She said the district has lost more than 300 students in the past two school years. Each student represents about $10,000 in annual funding, based on weighted funding, resulting in a revenue loss of roughly $3 million. “Any loss of children is a loss of money,” Friddle said, “and we feel it across our entire budget.” Texas school districts are funded primarily by average daily attendance, not enrollment totals or local tax rates. That means fewer students showing up each day directly reduces district revenue, Friddle explained.
After months of financial workshops and planning discussions, Bryan ISD is preparing next year’s budget amid declining student enrollment, limited growth in state funding and rising operational costs. Bryan ISD Chief Financial Officer Norma Friddle told Community Impact the upcoming budget year is expected to include a projected deficit, but emphasized the district is working to avoid long-term financial imbalance through staffing adjustments, attendance improvements and spending reviews.
Breaking down Bryan ISD's tax rate Bryan ISD has not yet decided whether it will place a VATRE on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Bryan ISD expenditures, FY 2025-26 Payroll: 85.17% Contracted services: 6.78% General supplies: 4.23%
Total budget $184.7M
Other operating: 3.05% Debt service: 0.45% Capital outlay: 0.33%
2025-26 rate, per $100 valuation $0.2700
$0.6769
Interest & sinking: The I&S tax rate is used strictly to repay debt from voter- approved bonds.
Maintenance & operations: The M&O tax rate pays for the day-to-day operation of the district.
Students lost: 300+ , which equals $3M
Estimated 2025-26 deficit: $3.1M
Current fund balance: 2.7 months operating costs
Estimated 2025-26 average daily attendance: About 93%
SOURCE: BRYAN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
NOTE: BASED OFF MAY 4 SPECIAL MEETING
SOURCE: BRYAN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Stay tuned
Friddle said leadership does not view the situation as a long-term crisis. “Every school district hopes to have a balanced budget every year,” she said. “I don’t think that it is [a long-term issue].”
Aug. 17 is the Bryan ISD board of trustees’ deadline to order a VATRE on the November ballot. Although the district is currently in a $3.1 million deficit, a one-time state property valuation decreased the deficit from $6.7 million.
Bryan ISD trustees will continue budget discussions ahead of a formal budget adoption this summer.
Promote your business
Coming Soon! Community Impact’s Education Guide
Scan, call 512.989.1000 or email ads@communityimpact.com
10
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook