Katy ISD Chief Financial Officer Christopher Smith said the district's slowed enrollment growth and the state’s basic allotment caps place the district at a disadvantage to raise staff salaries.

KISD board's of trustees announced its budget update for the 2025-26 fiscal year at the Jan. 13 work study meeting as the district looks forward to opening two new schools and providing competitive compensation for its staff, according to a board presentation.

Smith said he believes the ongoing state legislative session will determine if the district could continue to weather the blows of inflation.

The background

In November, KISD staff laid out the district’s priorities ahead of the 89th Texas Legislature, which began Jan. 14.


Priorities included:In August, KISD faced a $25.42 million shortfall for the 2024-25 fiscal year due to inflation and the previous legislative session's failure to increase the basic allotment, Community Impact previously reported. This shortfall rose after a 3% midpoint raise to teacher and staff pay in March.

The district spends 89% of the general fund on staff payroll, according to the board presentation.

“I would caution us to say that until funding happens in Austin that we keep our powder dry, so that we don't have to stack it. We can't afford a 3% salary increase this year without changes in state funding,” Smith said.

Major takeaways


Smith said the district is facing various state funding challenges, including:
  • $9 million lost due to enrollment caps on the state’s fast-growth allotments
  • $11 million lost from cuts to Medicaid funding for special education students
  • No additional funding for the free and reduced-price lunch program for low-income students, despite staff expecting a 3% growth in that population year over year
Despite having the highest growth of districts in the Houston area in the past five years, KISD’s enrollment growth has slowed to 500 new students per year, which Smith said is 400 below the projected new student enrollment this year. Even with the opening of Boudny and Cross elementary schools this fall, the district will experience less growth than years past, he said.

However, Smith said he believes the district initiatives have been successful at increasing the district’s average daily attendance, or ADA. This resulted in 570 additional students in the classroom daily, according to prior reporting.

Another note

Smith said legislators have filed several bills seeking to lower school districts’ maintenance and operations tax rates with the state’s $24 billion surplus. The M&O rate is one of two rates that fund district operations.


Since 2019, the state has lowered property tax rates by $0.32, Smith said.

“They can lower it all you want, but that doesn't mean that it helps or puts money or takes away money from the classroom,” he said. “Something needs to happen with the funding formulas in order for new monies to keep up with inflation.”

Next steps

In the coming months, Smith said he will present a long-term debt plan and provide a closer look on general fund budget projections.


In August, a proposed FY 2025-26 budget will be presented to trustees as well as amendments for the ongoing FY 2024-25 budget.