The budget workshop primarily focused on expense projections for FY 2025-26, as Boles discussed revenue projections during the board’s April workshop meeting.
Current situation
Boles said the district projects $226.5 million in revenue for FY 2025-26. The updated projection is an increase from the $220 million in revenue the district initially estimated at the last budget workshop meeting in April.
The district’s estimated expenditures are projected to be $229.5 million, Boles said, which would mean TISD will face a $3 million shortfall. The FY 2024-25 budget TISD approved last year came with a $9.1 million shortfall. Boles emphasized that the projections do not include any potential new funding that may come from the Texas Legislature.
Acknowledging the potential $3 million shortfall in the budget, Boles said running a deficit is not sustainable. Boles also said the district is working to keep reducing the deficit over time, in order to minimize impacts to TISD’s fund balance—essentially the district’s savings account.
“What we've done with the fund balance has provided the opportunity for the district to gradually respond to the deficit without having to make drastic changes to our operations, to the classroom and really minimize the impacts over the time as we work with the state legislature to hopefully increase funding for public education,” Boles said.
Zooming in
Within the projected budget, Boles said TISD will address the need for 79 new positions to account for districtwide growth, the opening of West Intermediate School and the growth of special education in the district.
Boles said 37 of the 79 total new district positions are allocated specifically for growth in special education.
Some of the projected expenditures for FY 2025-26 include:
- $142.9 million for instruction
- $12.4 million for campus leadership
- $10.2 million for transportation
- $22.6 million for plant maintenance and operations
Boles said the district is keeping an eye on House Bill 2, which would increase funding for public education by $7.7 billion. HB 2 was initially approved by the Texas House of Representatives on April 16, but the bill needs to be approved by both chambers to become law, Community Impact previously reported.
If HB 2 were passed by both the Texas House and Senate, Boles said it would influence the budget for the district, especially when it comes to teacher pay.
“Any and all people are encouraged to talk to the decision makers because this is the time,” TISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said. “The decisions that are being made today will affect us monumentally moving forward.”
The 89th Texas Legislative session is slated to end June 2. The next TISD workshop board meeting is also planned for June 2. District leaders said the district will adopt its FY 2025-26 budget in June.
