Cy-Fair ISD proposes employee pay raises in FY 2021-22 budget

Cy-Fair ISD board members are considering 3% pay raises for employees districtwide and increasing starting teacher salaries from $56,000 to $58,000 in the fiscal year 2021-22 budget.

If approved, these measures would cost the district $24.8 million, which would be supported by federal stimulus funding known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief spending plans, Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith said at the June 21 board work session.

Payroll costs ultimately amount to about 89% of the district's proposed $1.06 billion budget. This budget includes a $65.7 million shortfall, which Smith said she expects will be reduced by covering allowable costs through the ESSER grants.

“The board has graciously provided a raise for all employees for the last nine years,” Smith said.

CFISD teachers, including Donna Lord, Cy-Fair Texas State Teachers Association president, said the fiscal year 2020-21 salary is not enough considering what teachers have had to work through in the pandemic. She said the district increased work days by 15 minutes in 2020-21, equating to 47 additional hours by the end of the school year, with no additional compensation.

“You are exploiting your teaching staff,” she said at the meeting. “It’s time to step up and show us the respect we deserve.”

District officials expect to receive $997.8 million in revenue in the upcoming fiscal year, about 56.5% of which would come from local property taxes and 41.5% would come from the state. About 2% is expected to come from federal sources.

Additionally, Smith said she expects the property tax rate will decrease for the third consecutive year from $1.3555 to $1.3356 per $100 valuation.

The board of trustees will vote on the budget at the June 24 meeting.