Frisco ISD will begin a nine-month budget process to come up with cost-saving solutions to make up for a $30 million shortfall the district will face for the 2017-18 school year.
The board of trustees met Tuesday for a special meeting to discuss the results of the tax ratification election on Aug. 27, which voters rejected by a 58-42 margin, to raise the district tax rate by 13 cents per $100 valuation. The board also discussed developing a reduced budget for the 2017-18 school year.
Frisco ISD has begun a nine month budget process to develop a reduced budget for 2017-18.[/caption]
“We’re going to listen to our community and respect the results of the TRE,” FISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon said.
FISD Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Pickens provided the board a presentation about ways the district can save money this year and next school year. This was a preliminary meeting to discuss the budget process and things the board should consider moving forward.
For this year, Pickens recommended reducing staff travel, reducing professional development and scrutinizing hiring.
“We want to set up ourselves now so that we’re in the best possible position for the future,” Pickens said. “So we have to tighten our belt a little bit and identify these three areas for this school year so that we can keep some savings.”
The district will also have to dip into its fund balance as necessary to finish out the school year.
A fund balance is created when a school district has money left over from the end of its fiscal year.
The district has not officially calculated last year’s fund balance, but it was projected to be about $95.5 million in general funds.
Trustee Bryan Dodson said he was weary about dipping too far into the fund balance because the district still needs those funds to cover payments before property tax and state revenues come in.
Pickens said the goal is to save as much as possible so to not dip too far into the fund balance.
For the 2017-18 budget, Pickens recommended reducing central administration costs as much as possible, freezing salaries for all staff, which would save the district $7 million, and delay the opening of new schools until 2018-19.
FISD had plans to open four new schools next year: Memorial High School, Lawler Middle School and Talley and Liscano elementary schools.
Total staffing costs for the four schools would be $15.2 million, not including utilities, maintenance or transportation.
Pickens said the district would incorporate a priorities-based budgeting model in which the district would fund high-priority areas that have the greatest impact on students. To pay for those high-priority areas, the district would reduce or eliminate spending in lower-priority areas.
There will be three committees involved in the budget process: the steering committee, the working group and a stakeholder committee
The steering committee will be made up of upper-level central administration, including Lyon and Pickens. The working group will be made up of principals and coordinators.
The stakeholder committee will be made up of parents, community members and teachers nominated by the board.
Pickens said all these committees would be crucial during the nine-month budget process.
“The community spoke loud and clear,” Trustee Debbie Gillespie said. “And this is a great opportunity for them to give their input and be involved in our budget process so they can understand everything that we do here.”
For those interested in participating in the stakeholders committee can email the board at
[email protected].
Frisco ISD has begun a nine month budget process to develop a reduced budget for 2017-18.[/caption]
“We’re going to listen to our community and respect the results of the TRE,” FISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon said.
FISD Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Pickens provided the board a presentation about ways the district can save money this year and next school year. This was a preliminary meeting to discuss the budget process and things the board should consider moving forward.
For this year, Pickens recommended reducing staff travel, reducing professional development and scrutinizing hiring.
“We want to set up ourselves now so that we’re in the best possible position for the future,” Pickens said. “So we have to tighten our belt a little bit and identify these three areas for this school year so that we can keep some savings.”
The district will also have to dip into its fund balance as necessary to finish out the school year.
A fund balance is created when a school district has money left over from the end of its fiscal year.
The district has not officially calculated last year’s fund balance, but it was projected to be about $95.5 million in general funds.
Trustee Bryan Dodson said he was weary about dipping too far into the fund balance because the district still needs those funds to cover payments before property tax and state revenues come in.
Pickens said the goal is to save as much as possible so to not dip too far into the fund balance.
For the 2017-18 budget, Pickens recommended reducing central administration costs as much as possible, freezing salaries for all staff, which would save the district $7 million, and delay the opening of new schools until 2018-19.
FISD had plans to open four new schools next year: Memorial High School, Lawler Middle School and Talley and Liscano elementary schools.
Total staffing costs for the four schools would be $15.2 million, not including utilities, maintenance or transportation.
Pickens said the district would incorporate a priorities-based budgeting model in which the district would fund high-priority areas that have the greatest impact on students. To pay for those high-priority areas, the district would reduce or eliminate spending in lower-priority areas.
There will be three committees involved in the budget process: the steering committee, the working group and a stakeholder committee
The steering committee will be made up of upper-level central administration, including Lyon and Pickens. The working group will be made up of principals and coordinators.
The stakeholder committee will be made up of parents, community members and teachers nominated by the board.
Pickens said all these committees would be crucial during the nine-month budget process.
“The community spoke loud and clear,” Trustee Debbie Gillespie said. “And this is a great opportunity for them to give their input and be involved in our budget process so they can understand everything that we do here.”
For those interested in participating in the stakeholders committee can email the board at [email protected].
