A fiscal year 2017-18 budget that includes approximately $1.4 billion in revenue and $1.5 billion in expenditures was approved by the Austin ISD board of trustees tonight.

Expenditures broken down by category include roughly $1.3 billion from the district's general fund, $39 million in food service costs and $105 million in debt service fund expenditures. An appropriation of approximately $54 million from general fund reserves to cover the shortfalls related to recapture payments and state per capita funding reductions is also included in the budget.

In a letter written by Superintendent Paul Cruz, he commended the district's administration for finding a way to "invest in its people" even in the face of exorbitant payments to the state's Robin Hood fund. Next year's contribution is expected to amount to approximately $400 million.

"As we face the stark reality of the state school finance system, we find it increasingly difficult to provide the resources our teachers, staff and families deserve," Cruz wrote.

Implemented in 1993, recapture, also known as “Robin Hood,” requires school districts that are deemed “property wealthy” to share property tax revenue with school districts deemed “property poor.” AISD is the single largest contributor to state recapture in Texas.

An 1.5 salary increase will be implemented for AISD employees, and the district will also increase its contribution to employee health care plans, according to Cruz's letter. The total allocation to employee compensation amounts to $11 million.

The motion to accept the FY 2017-18 budget was approved 7-0-2, with trustees Edmund Gordon and Geronimo Rodriguez abstaining.