BISD Faces Budget Challenges

Superintendent Brett Springston and the Board of Trustees are closely monitoring legislative events in Austin as the Texas Legislature grapples with a $18-$27 billion budget deficit as announced by the Texas Comptroller at the start of the session. Since funding for public education makes up about 44% of the state budget, much of the responsibility for balancing the budget has been placed squarely on local school districts.

Brownsville ISD’s current budget of a little over $505 million includes almost $326 million in state revenues. All school districts are slated to lose funding. Just how much BISD will lose will not be known until the Texas Legislature formalizes and approves the budget which is likely several months from now. Preliminary figures range from $15 to $50 million for Brownsville’s share of the school funding reductions. BISD officials anticipate
the district will need to identify $30-$35 million in possible funding reductions based on various state budget models. The Texas Comptroller is scheduled to issue a revised Biennial Revenue Estimate in March which could include additional revenue.

Consultants with the Texas School Alliance produced three state models for Brownsville ISD that peg possible funding reductions at $15.9 million, $31.3 million and $50.6 million. Brownsville officials will draft a proposed budget for each of the three models to present to the Board of Trustees Budget Committee for discussion purposes on Thursday, February 17, 2011. The district is considering several options to reduce next year’s budget. The following measures are currently under review:

• Reduce transportation services not reimbursed by the State
• Eliminate academic teaming
• Fund mandatory summer school only, consolidate summer school sites,
4-day summer school
• Employee health insurance contribution
• Reduce campus and department budgets
• Increase student/teacher ratios districtwide to 25:1
• Reduce overtime
• Reduce extra-duty pay
• Consolidate departments
• Consolidate the number of copy machines
• Revise staffing ratios for custodians, food service staff, office staff, librarians,
counselors, etc.
• No second conference periods
• Reduce stipends
• No re-appropriation for carry over purchase orders
• Incentives for early retirement
• Consolidate smaller schools

“Less state funding presents a challenge for our school district. However, we have a proven track record of succeeding regardless of the obstacles placed in our path. We will find creative ways to do more with less and work to reduce spending while minimizing the impact on student instruction,” said Superintendent Brett Springston.