Charged with assessing and prioritizing RISD’s current and long-term financial needs, the RISD Community Budget Steering Committee gathered July 25 for its initial meeting, beginning a process expected to result in recommendations to the board in December.
Committee members will study the district’s current financial position, funding methods, expenses, and operational model, including factors that have contributed to an imbalanced operating budget in recent years. Trustees will make eventual 2024-25 budget decisions next June and will begin budget planning in January after the CBSC provides recommendations for a sustainable financial plan that aligns with:
- RISD trustees’ True North Goal that every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goals.
- The educational needs of all students as part of RISD’s recently adopted Strategic Plan 2023.
The committee was created by the RISD board as part of the 2023-24 budgeting process that concluded in June, and includes RISD parents, community members, business partners, teachers, and principals who collectively represent all four RISD learning communities.
At the July 25 meeting, the committee reviewed the group’s purpose and charge, received a district demographic overview, began reviewing the components that make up the Texas school finance system, and learned about some of the factors that are contributing to a current projected operating deficit in 2024-25 of $47.5 million, including:
- Declining enrollment compared to pre-pandemic. Student attendance is the primary driver of funding for public schools in Texas, so declining enrollment directly impacts how many students attend school each day.
- Lack of additional legislative funding for public schools. The state has not increased per-pupil funding levels since 2019.
- Accelerated inflation with an 18% increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2020 that has increased operating expenses.
- Projected long-term enrollment declines reflective of state and national trends and lower birth rates.
- National and state educator shortage driving substantial competition and higher wages.
- The expiration of federal pandemic-relief funds, known as ESSER.
- Through central cuts, the impact of a new bilingual learning model, and elimination of some allocated, unfilled positions, RISD realized $14.4 million is operating efficiencies as part of the current 2023-24 budget.
- Under the Texas school funding system, increases in property values and collected taxes do not provide additional operating funds to school districts. The state of Texas, not schools, benefits from increases in property values.
The committee is scheduled to meet monthly and will review and discuss RISD’s staffing information and projected future enrollment data at the August meeting.
Learn more about the RISD Community Budget Steering committee here, including presentations, minutes from meetings, and other resources.
See an archive of RISD’s budget planning work here.
