The overview
In June, CFISD officials projected the district’s budget shortfall for FY 2024-25 at approximately $24 million, according to Community Impact’s budget reporting from earlier this year.
However, a Nov. 6 presentation of the district’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report shows CFISD spent approximately $27.6 million more than it brought in last fiscal year.
According to the presentation, though, the district concluded the fiscal year June 30 with only an $11.1 million deficit after staff accounted for a net reduction in payroll costs due to unfilled positions.
Additionally, the report documents show CFISD saw a bump in local revenue after adopting two disaster pennies to cover costs incurred by extreme weather events.
“It’s good in one way that we were able to save money, but at the same time, it just goes to show the fact that we have a lot of unfilled positions [which are] there for a reason,” trustee Justin Ray said at the Nov. 6 board meeting.
CFISD ended FY 2024-25 with a fund balance of $549.6 million, per the report. The district spent only 1.56% of its annual budget on general administration costs, including district leadership, compared to the statewide average of 3.51%, the report found.
The district spent the bulk of its budget—about 65%—on instruction, according to a spending breakdown.
Before you go
The next board work session is scheduled for Dec. 11, followed by a regular meeting Dec. 15, both at the Mark Henry Administration Building at 11440 Matzke Road, Cypress.
Newly elected trustees Lesley Guilmart, Cleveland Lane Jr. and Kendra Camarena are set to be sworn in at the Dec. 11 work session, district officials said.
