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The Hutto ISD board of trustees took no action on proposed budget cuts and revenue-generating measures March 8, deciding instead to schedule a budget workshop and special meeting March 29 at which time they could make decisions.

At the March 29 meeting, the district will consider eliminating certain positions and other expenditure cuts.

The district could decide to enact a reduction in force program change, which would close two vacant elementary art positions and cut two music positions at the elementary level, a librarian position and one middle school assistant principal intern, Hutto ISD spokeswoman Emily Grobe said.

Superintendent Doug Killian said the district would try to integrate the affected people into other positions.

Board members have a list of possible budget cuts and revenue-generating measures that are divided into four tiers that range in how much they would affect the district from least to greatest.

Some of the items in Tier 2 and 3 would depend on whether voters approve or reject a 13 cent tax rate increase if the district decides to call a tax ratification election (TRE).

Killian said the district would have to wait until after receiving certified estimated property values to call a TRE. Grobe said the district usually receives those in May.

Tiers 1–3 on the list, which was updated March 1, amount to $2.1 million in expenditure cuts. Tier 4 cuts were not calculated. Grobe said some of the savings are dependent upon others being implemented. The district's goal is to cut the budget by $1.4 million, she said.

Board President Doug Gaul instructed the board members March 8 to further scrutinize the tiered list and decide what items they need more information about, which ones could be cut and which ones they want removed from the list.

"They are going to talk about priorities and what they want to see come back if a TRE passes," Grobe said.

Although the March 29 meeting is not a public forum, members of the public are welcome to come listen to the board members deliberate, Gaul said.

"This is not easy for us, and this is what we want to communicate to the community," he said.

Hutto residents can view a Q&A and take a survey about the budget cuts on the district's website at www.hipponation.org/budget.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Hutto ISD Administration Building Board Room, located at 200 College St.