The Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees passed a $101 million operating budget with a $3.07 million deficit at a board meeting June 23.

However, trustees and other district officials expect amendments to the budget in August to adjust for changes from the 89th Texas Legislature, they said at the meeting.

Budget breakdown

The over $101 million operating budget comes from local, state and federal revenues.

District officials anticipate over $104 million in expenditures, with 83% going to payroll costs, Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn said.

Trustees approved dedicating over $1 million in fund balance allocations to utilities in order to bring the deficit expenditures to $2.02 million temporarily. District policy states that deficits cannot exceed two percent of budgeted revenues, but items using fund balance funds are excluded, according to district documents.

Cogburn said the allocation of fund balance money to utilities and the deficit will likely be temporary due to future amendments.

Trustees did not include general pay increases, a finalized compensation plan or new revenues in the approved budget and instead used current law and property growth estimates to create the budget, Cogburn said.

She said district administration is waiting for August to receive more clarification on changes from the 89th legislative session.

New legislation through House Bill 2 would give DSISD teachers annual salary pay increases depending on years of experience:

• $2,500 salary increase for teachers with 3 to 4 years of experience
• $5,000 for teachers with 5 or more years of experience

The bill also includes raising the basic allotment, or the per-student funding amount school districts receive, by $55, increasing the current basic allotment to $6,215. Additional funding includes funding for school safety, special education, other non-administrative staff and more.

Cogburn said district officials are also waiting for updated property value estimates and other information from the state to amend the budget.

What else?

The district made cuts to the budget ahead of budget adoption through position reductions, attrition and staffing, according to DSISD officials:

• Reduced nine positions that were not needed due to slower enrollment than projected, $550,000 in savings
• Eliminated two already-vacant positions, $184 in savings
• Staff transfers to account for new attendance zones and enrollment numbers, $427,000 in savings

Looking ahead

The district will likely amend the budget in August to account for new state information. The board of trustees will adopt a new tax rate in September.