As part of his first presentation for the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce, Lake Travis ISD Superintendent Curtis Null shared with attendees Oct. 29 the latest on district budget plans and bond projects.

Null was formally approved as LTISD's newest superintendent in May and officially started work in June.

The outlook

In fiscal year 2024-25, LTISD faced an $8.9 million general fund budget shortfall. That number is down to $4.23 million in FY 2025-26, but in order to reduce that number further, the district’s largest operating expense—payroll—will likely face challenges.

It’s not possible to cut $4.2 million from the operating budget without affecting staffing, Null said.

“We know that it’s a reduction in positions that will drive that, and we’re going to continue to work to try to make that as behind the scenes as possible,” Null said. “But truthfully, the $9 million to $4 million [budget shortfall reduction], most of those behind the scenes positions have already been tapped.”

The district will have to work together with the community to determine how to make tweaks in the budget without taking away programs, Null said.

Also alleviating some strain on the budget is a shift in strategy from the Lake Travis Education Foundation, which announced in September it will now be funding staff positions. LTEF gave a $405,000 check to the district at the Sept. 17 board meeting, marking its first step toward this new goal.

“They’re going to fund positions that we can’t fund on the district level so that those positions don’t have to go away,” Null said.

Diving in deeper

Among various ongoing district bond projects, Null shared that Lake Travis High School’s Agricultural Building addition, part of LTISD’s 2022 Proposition A bond totaling $548.4 million, is set to be completed in November.Additionally, the existing LTHS Cavalier Stadium has been largely leveled ahead of renovations and additions approved as part of the district’s 2023 Proposition A bond totaling $143 million. The stadium renovations are scheduled for completion in October 2026, alongside the high school’s science addition.

A full list of bond project and timeline updates shared at the meeting include:

• Lake Travis High School Agricultural Building additions: November
• Reimers-Peacock Road project: September 2026
• LTHS Cavalier Stadium renovations and additions: October 2026
• LTHS Science addition: October 2026
• Women’s Field House: April 2027
• LTHS Competition Gym & Fine Arts addition: June 2027
• Lake Travis High School No. 2: fall 2028

Click here for more renderings and photos shared at the meeting.

The district is aiming to open High School No. 2 in 2028, but “worst-case scenario” is fall 2029, Null said. The school will have a capacity for 1,500 students, compared to 3,500 at LTHS.

“Right now we’re working to make sure Travis County has the same goal that we have as a 2028 opening. ... But the bottom line is that it’s coming. It’s underway,” Null said.Alongside work at High School No. 2, Null shared updated photos of the road construction project off Reimers-Peacock Road near the new school. The new road will line up with Bob Wire Road across Hwy. 71.