Friendswood ISD is at risk for a $2.2 million deficit in the 2018-2019 school year, largely because of lower property values caused by Hurricane Harvey and plans for a 2 percent salary increase, which would cost $708,000, district officials said.

However, a portion of the deficit may not come to pass. According to Connie Morgenroth, assistant superintendent of business and operations, the district could receive funding from the Texas Education Agency to help make up for the expected $700,000-$1.1 million loss in property tax revenue. However, the district won’t necessarily hear back from the TEA prior to setting the budget or deciding teacher salaries.

To address the shortfall, Morgenroth said she hopes to cut the budget by $1.1 million, but any cuts would have to be approved by the board of trustees. The district will also be at risk for a $900,000 deficit in the 2019-2020 school year, which includes 2 percent raises and maintains the $1.1 million budget cuts from the year before.

“The uncertainty in all of this is, how much and what is TEA going to do to hold us harmless from the value lost in Hurricane Harvey?” Morgenroth said at the April 9 board meeting.

These numbers are subject to change until the district receives the certified values from the Galveston County Appraisal District and the final budget numbers.

The board of trustees will finalize the district in May or June.