With $50M shortfall looming, Cy-Fair ISD prioritizes salaries, transportation in budget talks

As Cy-Fair ISD faces a projected $50 million shortfall in 2025-26, Superintendent Doug Killian said at a May 22 budget workshop that his priorities include:

• Maintaining competitive salaries
• Providing equitable health insurance
• Teacher recruitment and retention
• Transportation services

CFISD officials are proposing a 4% pay increase for all employees and providing stipends at high-needs campuses. They are also considering reinstating bus routes that were cut in last year's budget approval.

Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith said to maintain a balanced budget, the district requires at least four months of expenses in fund balance to manage cash flow low points, unanticipated revenue shortfalls and unanticipated expenses.

Based on current law, Smith said to maintain this fund balance in 2027, the approved shortfall for 2025-26 cannot exceed $67.1 million.

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With House Bill 2 moving through the Legislature to prioritize teacher pay increases, plans include a teacher retention allotment of $2,500 for teachers with three to four years of experience and $5,500 for teachers with over five years of experience.

“I really appreciate all the money that they're going to send for teachers, but there are a couple problems with it,” Killian said. “Number one, it's just classroom teachers. In the past, when there's been a teacher pay increase, it also impacts counselors, librarians, nurses and all the classroom teachers. So right there, we already know that we're going to have to come up with money ourselves to find the raises for all the other staff.”

What's next

The board will reconvene at the board work session June 18, and trustees are expected to approve a final budget June 23.