Round Rock ISD board to discuss $72.5M recapture projections, budget May 5

Round Rock ISD staff will present the proposed 2022-23 budget to trustees during a May 5 meeting, including projections for recapture payments made to the state.

The projected recapture payment for the 2022-23 school year, according to the proposed budget, is just over $72.5 million, with $54.4 million estimated for the preliminary budget and more than five times the $14.8 million budgeted for recapture for the 2021-22 school year.

Area districts are encountering a similar dilemma with increases in property values driving recapture payments higher and causing districts to enter recapture, a funding mechanism the Texas Education Agency utilizes to share excess local property tax revenues with other school districts. In neighboring Pflugerville ISD, property value increases are pushing the district closer to Chapter 49 status without a large influx of enrollment.

“[High property values have] exactly the opposite effect of what you’d think for our school finance,” PfISD Superintendent Doug Killian said. “The more property wealthy we are, the less state aid we receive—we just collect more of it local.”

In RRISD, the total property tax collection for 2022-23 is projected to be $453.16 million, up from $411.41 million in the preliminary budget. For the 2021-22 school year, $387.7 million in property tax collections were projected.

The board will also consider another amendment to its 2022-23 compensation plan, raising pay by 5% for teachers and librarians in years one to seven and 21-23 and increasing starting salaries to $53,000. In April, the board approved a 4% pay increase for these designated positions and increased its starting salary to $52,600. Similarly, 4% and 3% increases are being proposed for other district employees after slightly lower pay raises were approved in April.