Photo by Samantha BryantThe Hutto ISD Board of Trustees approved about $1.2 million in budget cuts and revenue measures for the 2012–13 school year April 10.
With the $1.2 million approved at the meeting, the district projects next school year's budget will be about $37.3 million, said Ed Ramos, assistant superintendent of finance and operations.
The district also declared a reduction in force program change, which will affect just one position, an elementary school music teacher.
Of the $1.2 million, about $700,000 was identified as permanent cuts for the next school year—such as reducing campus and department budgets by 10 percent and eliminating standby ambulance services at football games.
Other budget items, about $500,000 worth, were cut from the budget now but could be restored if voters were to approve a proposed tax ratification election, or TRE, later in the year to raise the tax rate by 13 cents per $100 of property valuation. The district has discussed but has not yet called a TRE.
Some of the cuts, such as reducing vehicle and equipment repair budgets, were only approved for one year and will need to be added back into the 2013–14 budget.
"Some of these expenditures will come back in," trustee Byron McDaniel said. "You can't always push them out."
There were about eight parents who attended the budget discussion portion of the April 10 meeting.
Hutto ISD parent Mary Bone spoke during the public comment period and called on the district to provide greater detail in the line items of the budget. She said she voted to approve the TRE last year, but said she does not think the budget should be developed around a TRE.
"I don't think we should be making budget decisions based on the TRE passing," Bone said.
Superintendent Doug Killian said the district must prepare for more cuts to education funding from the state in future years and try to increase its fund balance.
"$1.2 [million] gives us a balanced budget next year, but it doesn't give us any wiggle room at all," Killian said.
