Education
BY ELLE BENT & BROOKE SJOBERG
AISD to make $30M in cuts for FY 2024-25 Austin ISD’s budget shortfall for fiscal year 2024-25 has increased from what officials predicted in April. The big picture District officials assumed an average daily atten- dance rate of 92% and a property value growth of 10%, but discovered in mid-April the rates are 87% and 5%, respectively. This brings the predicted $60 million shortfall to $89 million. Officials are mak- ing an estimated $30 million in cuts, meaning the school year may start with a $59 million shortfall. More budget cuts are in discussion, including to staff. Already, 41 central office positions—many of which were vacant— have been cut. “Our goal is to keep the lights on and the doors open,” board member Candace Hunter said during a board meeting April 9. “This [shortfall] is not our fault.”
RRISD reduces projected shortfall As Round Rock ISD continues its bud- get-making process for the upcoming fiscal year, district administrators have reduced a projected shortfall right under $30 million to about $20 million by identifying efficiencies in district operations. The district hopes to further reduce this shortfall by the time the board approves a final budget in June, administrators say. What you need to know Chief Financial Officer Dennis Covington and Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez stated some positions may be eliminated, and employees may be reassigned as needed, but administrators are working to ensure no employees are let go as a result of these budget-related adjustments.
Budget cuts
Contract reductions with third-parties: $14M Operational adjustments, such as technology efficiencies: $10.24M Cut in central office positions: $3.66M Overtime control: $2.35M Contract eliminations with third-parties: $434K
Total $30.68M
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next? District officials will continue to look at different avenues to offset the shortfall such as eliminating outside vendor contracts, adding a registrar at elementary schools to help track daily attendance or asking voters for a property tax increase this November. The AISD board of trustees will approve the FY 2024-25 budget June 20.
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