Friendswood ISD’s fiscal year 2024-25 budget is expected to have a shortfall of just under $705,300 that could increase depending on future board actions.

Meanwhile, district officials are also eying a 0.9% tax rate decrease.

What’s happening?

At a May 13 board meeting, FISD officials said they are projecting about $60.6 million in revenue for FY 2024-25. This would be a decrease from FY 2023-24 by more than $4.4 million, according to district documents.

Meanwhile, FISD expects to spend about $61.1 million on expenses. This has also decreased from FY 2023-24 by more than $4.6 million, according to district documents.


This means the district is projected to have about a $705,300 shortfall. But around half a million more dollars could be added to that from potential salary scenarios, FISD Chief Financial Officer Amber Petree said at the meeting.

On the tax side, FISD’s projected tax rate for FY 2024-25 is $1.07 per $100 valuation, according to district documents. This projected tax rate is 0.9% lower than the FY 2023-24 tax rate of $1.08 per $100 valuation.

Diving in deeper

FISD Superintendent Thad Roher said more revenue can come from increased:
  • Average daily attendance
  • Number of students
  • Advertising revenue
  • Rental revenue
Meanwhile, the main general fund expenditures are:
  • Payroll
  • Contracted services
  • Supplies and materials
  • Debt services
  • Capital outlay
  • Other unspecified costs
Adding to expenses could be a salary increase for employees, according to district documents. The district is looking at two separate scenarios, which are:
  • A 3% salary increase for teachers and nonteaching professionals, such as behavior coordinators, career and college specialists, counselors, diagnosticians, and more, as well as a 1% increase for all other staff
  • A 3% midpoint increase, which is the average of a salary range, for all teachers and nonteaching professionals, as well as a 1% increase for all other staff
While the shortfall could potentially be at about $1.2 million if either salary scenario is approved, it could go down if the district sticks with spending 98% of expenditures. If that occurs, the projected shortfall would go down to about $517,100, or about $1.1 million if either salary scenario is approved, according to district documents.


Over the last five fiscal years, FISD has spent about 97.5% of the revised expenditure budget, according to district documents.

Quote of note

Petree said there are many ways for the district to earn increased revenue. The district has also made budget reductions in district property insurance, operational budgets, campus departments, overnight travel for employees and the school board, and noninstructional workforce, according to Roher’s presentation.

“The deficit includes rolling the salary bands or any position that is paid where their pay is based on years of service,” Petree said at the meeting. “Items that could help—we should get some kind of new construction facilities allotment, that’s $1,000 per [average daily attendance] at the new Cline [Elementary]. Potential discussion on the sale of the old Cline property, that’s another item that can bring in some revenue.”


Stay tuned

The budget must be approved by the board of trustees by Aug. 31, according to district documents.