GCISD gives OK to 2014-2015 budget

Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District trustees signed off on a $145 million 2014-2015 budget Monday that District Communications Director Megan Overman said includes a $1,250 across-the-board raise for teachers.

Also on the board's plate was a $30.7 million debt service budget and about $6.4 million for child nutrition services in GCISD.

The $145 million general fund budget is set to run about $9.8 million in the red on about $135 million in revenues, with the child nutrition budget also about $360,000 over its revenue total.

Part of the problem that has led to the general fund deficit spending plan in GCISD is the district's state recapture payment under a system commonly known as "Robin Hood," where richer districts pay to the state and poorer districts receive money from the state.

DaiAnn Mooney, head of finance for GCISD, said almost 18 cents of every budgeted general fund dollar are heading to Austin in the 2014-2015 budget. That totals about $24.9 million.

Tax rates for the district are set to remain steady at 1.3201 per $100 of property value. The levy is a combination of the maximum-allowed maintenance and operation tax rate of $1.04 and a $0.2801 tax for debt service.