The details: District Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn gave the FBISD board of trustees an update on the budgeting process for FY 2023-24 during its May 15 meeting.
FBISD is tentatively estimated to receive $39.8 million in new state funding, most of which would come from Texas House Bill 100. The bill would require $19.8 million of those funds be spent on staff raises. The district plans to include all of its staff and increase that amount to $20.8 million. It also would receive an $8 million safety and security allotment, with $4 million to fund a police officer on every campus.
If the legislation moves forward as it is written, the district would see $789.2 million in revenue and $787.4 million in net expenditures after $23.5 million in budget cuts. It would also add a $2.2 million surplus to its fund balance, according to agenda documents.
However, the district is required to adopt its budget before the 2022-23 fiscal year ends June 30. A copy of the budget has to be published for the public to view by May 24, but the Texas legislative session doesn’t end until May 29.
The district plans to publish a “worst-case scenario” budget that assumes it receives no new state revenues, Guinn said. Then, if the legislation passes, the board can amend the budget to incorporate the new revenues and expenditures. This version of the budget will include $749.4 million in revenue, $754.6 million in net expenditures and $500,00 from other sources, resulting in a $4.7 million deficit. However, the district will still maintain its 90-day operating reserve.
The district also expects a minimum one-cent decrease in the maintenance and operations tax rate, Guinn said.
In their own words: “Everything that we still have is based on information that is available from the Legislature, but they have not made any final decisions that would give us an indication of how things will ultimately look,” Guinn said.
What’s next? The district will hold a public hearing and adopt the 2023-24 budget in June. Then, in August, the district will hold another public hearing and adopt the tax rate.
