The LTISD board of trustees approved the budget at an Aug. 21 meeting after district officials made around $2.8 million in cuts to vacant positions and contracted services, $1.2 million of which were related to special education, Superintendent Paul Norton said.
Several LTISD parents shared their concerns about the special education budget reductions during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“We are concerned about the special education cuts, and the impact to the 18-plus program,” parent Amy Halford said, standing next to her 19-year-old son who receives transitional services. “Budget cuts are straining the special education department, jeopardizing the quality of education and transition services.”
The big picture
The district adopted a general operating fund budget with $166.6 million in expenditures and $162.6 million in revenues, resulting in a $4 million shortfall.
Nearly 81% of expenditures are allocated for payroll costs, including a 1% salary raise for staff members totaling $706,000 and an increase to its starting teacher salary from $56,000 to $57,000.
The budget includes the addition of positions that were previously funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant funds, a 40% increase in property insurance premiums, and an increase in custodial services, said Pam Sanchez, LTISD assistant superintendent for business services.
Around 87% of the district’s revenues come from local property taxes. The district will pay nearly $50 million in local property taxes back to the state through a process known as recapture—which is an almost $4.4 million increase from FY 2023-24, according to district documents.
Also of note
The district adopted a tax rate of $1.0656 per $100 valuation for FY 2024-25, which is the lowest tax rate adopted by the district in its history, Sanchez said. The state has compressed the district’s tax rate over the last several years as its property values grow.
Homeowners with an average taxable value of $561,996 can expect to pay $5,989 in property taxes, which is a $407 increase from last fiscal year, according to district documents. Although the average market value of a home decreased, the average taxable value of a home in the district increased this fiscal year, Sanchez said.
How we got here
In April, the district projected one of its largest budget shortfalls in recent years at $6.68 million. District officials and board members have expressed frustration over a lack of state funding as the basic allotment per student has not increased since 2019.
In an effort to reduce the shortfall, officials cut $2.84 million in unfilled positions and contracted services, Sanchez told Community Impact.
At the Aug. 21 meeting, Norton said $1.2 million of the cuts affected special education services while the remaining $1.6 million in cuts were made to other departments and campuses throughout the district.
What they’re saying
Parent Ashley Lindsey said her son did not receive the support services and specialized instruction he needed due to a shortage in special education staff members. The district started the 2024-25 school year with 19 vacancies, 16 of which were for special education teachers and aides, according to a presentation at the meeting.
"My husband and I are fortunate to be able to drive our children to a better-resourced school within the district, but I'm here today speaking for hundreds of families who can't do the same—those without options, unaware of other options. Their voices often go unheard," Lindsey said.
Place 2 board member Lauren White requested the district explore ways to reduce turnover among special education staff.
“I worry about the impact on our students and families and teachers,” White said about the budget cuts. “I also worry about the message that we're sending to our students and families, teachers, and really our community.”
What else?
The cuts to special education positions were made amid the results of a staffing survey conducted last school year, Norton said. He pointed out that the state funding per student has remained stagnant while the state has enforced new mandates without fully funding them.
Despite a reduction in the district’s initial budget allocation for FY 2024-25, Sanchez said the special education budget was about $150,000 higher than last fiscal year due to student enrollment growth.
Enrollment for special education students has grown at a faster rate than enrollment for students receiving general education instruction, Norton said. This comes as a new law went into effect in September requiring districts to begin serving more dyslexic students under special education, he said.
Stay tuned
The board may choose to amend the district’s FY 2024-25 budget at a later date, Norton said.
White requested that district officials present more information on special education staffing at its next board meeting Sept. 18.
