The budget is built on a proposed tax rate of $1.1797 per $100 property valuation, a reduction of $0.0862 compared to the previous fiscal year’s rate of $1.2659. A resident with a home value of $300,000, for instance, would see a $258.60 reduction in their tax bill year over year.
In documents presented during an Aug. 9 budget workshop, the proposed maintenance and operations tax rate was $0.0462 lower, and the debt service tax rate was $0.03 lower, combining for a total proposed rate of $1.1897.
Documents presented Aug. 23 showed a debt service rate reduction of $0.04 versus the $0.03 shown earlier in the month. The tax rate will be voted on by the board Sept. 27, district leaders said Aug. 23.
Local revenue increases from FY 2020-21 to FY 2021-22 total nearly $11 million, primarily due to an estimated increase in tax collections based on property value growth, per board documents. State revenue will decrease by nearly $3 million, but federal program revenue will increase by nearly $2.8 million. “Looking at a multiyear plan in terms of expenditure reductions will be an important part of our work this year,” Superintendent Eric Williams said Aug. 23 during the budget discussion.
Nearly 90% of the general fund will be used for employee staffing and benefits. Two-thirds of the general fund will be spent on direct classroom instruction and resources. A total 21.9 positions will be added in FY 2022, some funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money and some via the general fund. ESSER money will bring in instructional coaches, social workers and 14 clinic aides, per board documents.
The approved child nutrition budget has a $1.8 million surplus, per board documents. This school year, healthy meals will be offered every school day to students in pre-K through eighth grade at no cost thanks to guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, per a July 29 district news release.
The federal USDA meal program applies to elementary and intermediate schools, so free and reduced-price meals will be given to those who qualify at the high school level, Williams said Aug. 23.
CCISD will continue in 2021-22 to maintain an administrative cost ratio below the Texas Education Agency standard. The district has remained under 5% for 14 years; the TEA standard for a large district is 8.55%, per board documents. The ratio is calculated by dividing administrative costs by instruction costs, per TEA.
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