Updated 2:45 p.m. Sept. 6
Katy ISD reported Wednesday that the board of trustees approved a fiscal year 2017-18 budget during a rescheduled meeting on Aug. 31 at the Cinco Ranch High School library.
District spokesperson Maria DiPetta said the $663.9 million general fund budget proposal, with $674.8 million in revenue, was approved without changes since the trustees' Aug. 21 work study.
Meeting minutes and video were unavailable Wednesday. DiPetta said minutes would not be approved until the board's Sept. 25 meeting, and the Cinco Ranch High School library was not equipped for video recording.
Published 8:59 p.m. Aug. 22
Monday's Katy ISD board of trustees meeting saw the formal presentation and public hearing for the district's Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget, as well as the proposed 2017 tax rate. Staff proposed a $663.9 million general fund budget, with $674.8 million in general fund revenue.
By comparison, the adopted FY 2016-17 budget contained $638.5 million in general fund revenue and $631.4 million in general fund expenditures. The newly proposed budget would represent increases of 5.7 and 5.1 percent, respectively.
"This budget was built on 2 percent enrollment growth or about 77,233 students," KISD Chief Financial Officer Chris said. "It's my understanding that we're at that already and [I am] very pleased that we are there."
As expected July 24, state funding dropped 2.7 percent from the adopted 2016-17 budget's nearly $223 million. KISD is now expecting about $217 million in
state revenue for FY 2017-18, Smith said.
KISD's tax rate is expected to remain at $1.51 per $100 valuation. Smith said property values in KISD—the primary source of funding for the district—rose by 6.2 percent to about $38.7 billion in 2017.
"We'll be looking at those numbers in detail these next few weeks," Smith said, adding that property appraisals could change.
Payroll expenses would account for about 88 percent of the general fund, or $595.7 million. Smith said the opening of three new schools — Bryant Elementary, Stockdick Junior High and Paetow High — this year brings in 396 new staff that are contributing to the general fund increase.
In addition, the district approved staff salary increases between 3 and 3.16 percent in April, which will take effect in the 2017-18 school year.
"From everything that I've heard on that, that's been much appreciated of the board of trustees for doing that," Smith said.
The board will vote on whether to adopt the budget Aug. 28 and the tax rate will be adopted in September.