Cy-Fair ISD adopts budget with $80.9M shortfall, VATRE-contingent stipends

The stipends would be paid by Feb. 28, 2027, per a news release, and vary based on employment type:

• $2,000 for full-time hourly and paraprofessional employees
• $1,000 for all other full-time employees

“I hope that as families are trying to make ends meet and raise their families, that our economy will improve,” Kalmbach said, “and that our legislators will find a way to reimburse our part of the budget shortfall from our local optional homestead exemption.”

Breaking down the budget

According to meeting documents, 80% of the district’s FY 2026-27 expenditures are for instruction or instructional support.

Texas school districts have the ability to raise a portion of their tax rate by 17 cents over the state threshold. District officials confirmed during the May 7 work session that the board was allowed to raise the M&O tax rate by 5 cents without requiring voter approval. However, an election is required to access the additional pennies.

Holding a VATRE was originally discussed May 7, when Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith provided a timeline for the election:

• Select an auditor by July 3 to perform an efficiency audit
• Call the election by Aug. 17

In other news

In a 6-1 vote, with trustee Lesley Guilmart opposed, the board of trustees approved an agreement that will expand the Air Force Junior ROTC programs in the district by adding two units to Bridgeland and Cypress Park high schools.

This will bring four new employees to the district, and Smith said during the work session that while the Air Force does cover some of the costs of the program, it will cost the district $216,000.

“I want to commend our district administration, our staff, our campuses, for continuing to provide superior educational experience for our students in light of deep, deep fiscal challenges,” trustee Justin Ray said. “It’s not easy to run a high-functioning school district with the fiscal constraints we have.”

Looking forward

All students within the CFISD attendance boundary will remain eligible for bus transportation for the upcoming school year, per a news release.

The CFISD board of trustees is slated to meet at 6 p.m. in the Mark Henry Administration Building Board Room on Aug. 6 for a work session and Aug. 10 for a regular meeting.