The board unanimously approved the budget June 26 with a shortfall of $37.22 million, after knocking off $8.76 million in expenditures between April workshops and final approval.
Estimated total fund balance, according to agenda documents, will fall from $80.35 million to $43.12 million by June 2026. The shortfall and fund balance numbers presented do not account for a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE.
How we got here
The board has been meeting for several months on budget cuts, eventually coming to a consensus on several measures.
On May 8, the board consensus was to bring back seven cost reduction items, four of which were approved May 15. These actions were reductions on compensation plan positions, a library program restructuring, a revised reduction in District of Innovation teacher salary and a teacher-student ratio increase by two.
The items eventually not approved were a reduction of three working days for 226-plus day employees, the closure of Judson Middle School and the closure of two elementary schools, Candlewood Elementary and Franz Leadership Academy.
On June 5, the board approved closing the vacancies of 25 non-teaching positions and reducing four vacant nursing staff positions to licensed vocational nurse positions. On June 23, more cost reductions were approved, ranging from elimination of a vacant wellness and leave specialist position and a vacant district social worker position, to the elimination of student athletics insurance and the district powerlifting program.
What the board is saying
Board President Monica Ryan said that she voted for the budget despite her reservations.
"I am not happy to be passing this budget right now. This is not the budget I want to be passing, because this is not the budget that's going to help Judson ISD long-term ... but I am going to push the yes button because I have confidence and hope that we have started a path where we are looking across the entire district at efficiencies," Ryan said.
Board member José Macias Jr. said he also shares hope, though his hope is more based on playing "offense" and looking at additional revenues through a VATRE. Three different budgets were presented to the board on June 26, one without a VATRE, one with the current amount of 3.5 pennies and one with all pennies currently available under a VATRE.
"I'm hopeful that our community will consider, in the future, a VATRE to increase revenue in our district, that way we don't have to make drastic cuts. I can promise you, if we don't put it on the ballot and if we don't vote and it doesn't win, we're going to have to cut in a manner that is very painful for our community," Macias Jr. said.
Board Vice President Amanda Poteet asked about the timing of the budget material and why she received the final proposed numbers with a short turnaround time. Chief Financial Officer Larry Guerra agreed that it was tough to get numbers ready due to the state Legislature's late actions on school funding.
"It's difficult for me, because now I'm going to vote on this I've had just the brief presentation the public had, and I didn't get a lot of opportunity to look into it," Poteet said.
Next steps
The 2025-26 budget is a fluid one, several board members said, with what was approved June 26 likely to go through further changes. Macias Jr. said that later this summer he will advocate for a budget amendment adding a certified teacher to supervise In School Suspension, or ISS.
The JISD board also approved taking part in an efficiency audit on June 5, a step typically associated with calling for a VATRE. If the district were to call for a VATRE, it would take place at the tax rate adoption Aug. 18.
