The $305 million general fund budget will go toward maintaining the district at its anticipated enrollment for the upcoming school year with 29,963 students.
It has been made with the assumption of upholding a 94% attendance rate throughout the district, and also factors in 98.2% of property tax collection and a 9% increase in property growth.
The details
“This year’s budget reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility as we continue to face rapid growth and ensure the academic success of every student,” Comal ISD Board President Russ Garner said. “This budget will allow us to achieve our mission of providing opportunities for all by working together as a community and focusing on students’ current and future needs.”
The projected property tax rate for FY 2023-24 is $1.23 per $100 valuation, which is $.04 less than the previous fiscal year and won’t be adopted until September.
Most of the budget goes into staffing and compensation, with 56% of the FY 2023-24 projected expenses going toward teacher instruction.
To meet the needs of the district and its anticipated growth, the budget includes the cost of the expansion of the prekindergarten program and the addition of two elementary schools that will open this fall, Farias-Spitzer Elementary and Comal Creek Elementary, according to CISD officials.
According to district officials, the budget is aligned with the district’s five-year strategic plan and supports its six key priorities:
- Academic success and instruction
- College, career and military readiness
- Student safety and support
- Employee recruitment and retention
- Parent and community engagement
- Facilities growth and planning
“This is late in the game for getting our budgets; we're still waiting on the state to decide exactly what the budget is going to look like for public education this year,” Board Vice President Tim Hennessee said.
