[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6111006,"mediaKeyId","2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582","parentId",2755027,"title","EPISD schedules April–June budget workshops; trustees urged to prioritize review amid legislative uncertainty","audioSeconds",362,"startMs",5481000,"endMs",5843000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582&start=5481&end=5843","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582/thumbnail_5481000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111006/Texas/EPISD-schedules-AprilJune-budget-workshops-trustees-urged-to-prioritize-review-amid-legislative-uncertainty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111006-f50404ee4f6e23194e7351397ed3a25f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150887&Signature=JlmqhCEcZ10UU32Oea3gBkunAW87QCWikX7Vggl5GMFrnA3dTeAcGzzVtMav3pBzoHtE2MEH0-DRVdZ5GGoypqqbFFwONGlA4eLKjv0O37eNWTUzFRHO1n0O9soK4QcIyrqZ1JrZXj-xnzKq~zvureEJGT1zHYJXHZdSF~FnuQodH7vaptz2a4wZ-naPwvo6XYl3L~hnh0e-1FcBGzy7JVOgbjlKTLri3Wpiu7fWmorHWSoqnfzLaaqWhUUJ0nnqd-du7TFLpZNa63AOfsMRuyvDIiElPUMO5KMICisoLB-bVDYtsFafaJj9WNtpOttMOZB3MoAYNTRk6rskRMGPbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-25T00:13:13.467Z","article","El Paso ISD staff presented the district’s budget development timeline and asked trustees to accommodate additional workshops between April and June as the Legislature finalizes bills that could affect revenue.

Key dates staff reviewed include an April 1 budget forecast workshop (next scheduled), a requested April 25 deadline for trustees to submit revisions to the superintendent’s office, a staff‑proposed meeting in the week of April 21 to discuss health care and compensation in detail, a May 6 review of the proposed budget and compensation, and a target board adoption of the budget on June 18. Staff also reminded trustees that certified property values arrive in late July and the tax rate is adopted in August.

Why it matters: staff said the volume and pace of legislative activity during a session year require more frequent board briefings and possible special meetings. Presenters asked trustees to respond promptly to scheduling requests so staff can compile requested analyses in time for May and June decision points.

The workshop also covered several budget design items trustees asked to see in greater detail: the district’s equity‑based funding framework (approved in 2022 but not fully implemented), campus‑level allocations (local operating per capita amounts, state compensatory and Title I allocations), and how Title I funding will follow students who transfer between campuses. Staff said most campuses operate three budgets (local operating, state compensatory, and Title I) and will return with modeled allocations showing how funds move when enrollment shifts.

Staff reiterated they will produce a conservative base budget that assumes no unsettled legislative revenue increases; a separate “plan B” will reflect scenarios if bills pass in time and provide additional funds. Trustees agreed to prioritize availability for meetings during the April 21 window and the May–June window so the board can evaluate compensation and safety investments before the adoption deadline.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Meeting of Board Of Trustees, El Paso Independent School District March 24, 2025 11:30am","oneSentenceSummary","District staff outlined the budget development calendar, deadlines for trustee input and next steps on compensation, Title I and equity‑based allocations ahead of the June budget adoption and August tax‑rate actions.","taxTitle","EL PASO ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",13542,"location","Texas","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6111011,"Legislative proposals — basic allotment increase and homestead changes — could shift EPISD funding and compensation obligations",186,4183000,4369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582&start=4183&end=4369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582/thumbnail_4183000.jpg","/articles/6111011/Texas/Legislative-proposals-basic-allotment-increase-and-homestead-changes-could-shift-EPISD-funding-and-compensation-obligations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111011-667afeb6cef2fb6dd0c74a134dd8295b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150887&Signature=KM5AQ0haf5AJlt67biC66Kx1fwDJNsvbr76ZjzLjnp5k2XqiM1rwyI1WcLSXRqifimIsF~h34KkoZBBW-ptjbcDAu09ZI9uVwm9CGnbc8fK4vhlHrohhrUUQo9lKWpH1ha4Eg6qhRX-aA0319VqydlBz~mIVX4a4WdqrgYJEg4uRYBMH-gneOF0YxISWJdx7jTWs08vosiAApMpVohz0zPKsjN4pfnWBHkjz5PSb~aym8HEatnkS9fKZu75g5OX-rn5VE8va2LGCUxJeMiGJZyeor~jYOLnT7woJjIpuT7a3mAs8R~EmBEJaIh2F-zwP6jG5mrIgfp~3yM89oIQWyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","El Paso ISD staff used the board workshop to summarize pending state legislation that could materially change the district’s revenue and spending obligations if enacted.

Miss Saavedra, the presentation lead, reviewed several bills the district is monitoring, most notably proposals to increase the state basic allotment and to expand the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. She said House Bill 2 is the primary vehicle for school‑funding changes and that one frequently cited scenario would raise the basic allotment by $220 per student.

Why it matters: a larger basic allotment would raise state funding for districts, but several bills include strings. Staff said one proposal would require that 40% of “brand‑new” state funding be directed to compensation (for teachers and, by discussion in the workshop, broadly to employees other than administration). The presentation estimated that a $220 increase in the basic allotment could yield roughly $14 million in new revenue for EPISD and that 40% of that new money would be constrained to compensation—about $5.6 million under the estimate.

Staff also identified other pending provisions of interest: increased weights for special education and state compensatory education, proposals for teacher retention/bonus payments, and bills (House Bill 123 and House Bill 124 were mentioned) tied to school safety funding, campus allotments and peace‑officer requirements. Workshop presenters noted that some safety items include one‑time grants but that longer‑term facility and security investments could exceed the proposed allotments.

Aguirre and other staff described their planning posture: they will not adopt a budget that assumes unsettled legislation has passed. Aguirre said staff prepare a conservative base budget and a “plan B” that would be implemented if the Legislature finalizes specific provisions before statutory budget deadlines.

Trustees asked for more detailed breakdowns of mandated compensation language and how additional state funds would be applied — for example, whether required increases would be limited to classroom teachers or would also cover hourly staff. Staff said some proposals define eligible positions broadly but that they would research definitions and return with clarifying detail.

No formal policy decisions were made at the workshop; staff set a schedule to return with numerical scenarios and legal definitions once legislation moves through conference and is settled.","Trustees were briefed on pending bills in the Texas Legislature that could increase the basic allotment per student, expand homestead exemptions and require a portion of new state funding be spent on compensation; staff said they are preparing conservative budgets and contingency plans until conference results are final.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6111016,"EPISD projects lower tax rate, homestead exemptions and bond defeasance will shape 2026 budget outlook",422,1124000,1546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582&start=1124&end=1546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755027-1707fd64d85d9d140f7aec7550c3a582/thumbnail_1124000.jpg","/articles/6111016/Texas/EPISD-projects-lower-tax-rate-homestead-exemptions-and-bond-defeasance-will-shape-2026-budget-outlook","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111016-468fd88f80fe3e682ad73329663b40fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150887&Signature=iuVdFhS3QyLs6WXcuXeFDGSv98v4V4DKsRwzSEM5mkVjKSYQaaYNM8BYm~fDxZeUpH85poB8O8LRkxjtqCHisnwieiPdhKDNyO-EOe1duQpKywcx8vpq82sxvWyZYhwuOSesKwswA3wcQRWe3UfDO0BAlaGA3TO57FJuuEPyrdnWoi7Mh~2IjrxK--BkMNhuXkOzqxLM2ywdMh2cB3pGrSnvL9pHxyTbMbEQRv0K-yFuMS7Cj1RKXBkxuCcDcz3qQFXmxKIen4JpjqfFPXxKKe8yC3h5jYd0zrY5FVjcyCBSWxAwWgqeAmU7z4NBLdeFSSaVcu5DNwJklbC4A~tvaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","El Paso ISD officials told the school board at a March budget workshop that higher property valuations, state homestead exemptions and a recent defeasance of bonds will shape the district’s revenue picture for fiscal 2026. Martha Aguirre, chief financial officer, and Walt Byers, the district treasurer, outlined projected tax rates, state hold‑harmless payments and the district’s recent debt management steps.

The district’s average market value for properties inside EPISD boundaries was shown as $250,884, and staff are projecting a maximum compressed tax (MCR)‑driven maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate of 0.7699 for next year versus 0.8263 this year, officials said. With the $100,000 homestead exemption enacted in 2023, the presentation showed a sample homeowner tax liability of about $1,161 for school purposes on that market value.

Why it matters: property valuations set both local M&O revenue and the state’s Foundation School Program (FSP) offsets. As El Paso property values grow, the state reduces its Tier‑1 funding; that interaction — the “interplay between local property taxes and state appropriations,” a quote the presentation attributed to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath — affects how much local revenue the district can raise without voter approval.

Staff emphasized that early valuation figures are projections. The district receives preliminary values from the El Paso Central Appraisal District (CAD) at the end of April and certified values in late July; tax rates are adopted in August. Aguirre said the district will use conservative revenue assumptions in its budget and noted that, while CAD reported a roughly 11% valuation increase, the district historically models a lower final revenue impact (closer to 5–6%) when preparing its budget.

On debt service, trustees were reminded that the district used excess I&S (interest & sinking) fund balances to defease roughly $22 million in bonds, a move staff said reduced interest costs by about $20 million and supported maintaining the district’s AA bond rating. Byers explained the district chose to keep the I&S tax rate steady and apply excess revenue to pay principal rather than lower the rate, which preserved capacity and strengthened the district’s debt profile.

Officials also reviewed how Tier‑2 enrichment pennies work: the presentation estimated about $56 million in Tier‑2 revenue, with eight “golden pennies” yielding roughly $48.2 million and the copper pennies producing roughly $7.8 million. For the forecast year staff showed approximately $313 million in state FSP funding and $148.4 million from local M&O taxes for a combined FSP total of about $462.4 million.

Aguirre and Byers repeatedly cautioned that many figures remain forecasts until final valuations and any legislative changes are settled. They said the board will see updated revenue forecasts in subsequent workshops and that any significant changes would be reported to trustees as soon as staff had reliable numbers.

The presentation closed by noting that property valuations can change during appeals and that the district’s audit cycle continues into November because some final figures arrive after the fiscal year ends.","El Paso ISD staff told trustees that rising property values, a $100,000 homestead exemption, potential legislative increases to that exemption and recent bond defeasance will materially affect next year’s revenue and debt service planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EPISD schedules April–June budget workshops; trustees urged to prioritize review amid legislative uncertainty

Legislative proposals — basic allotment increase and homestead changes — could shift EPISD funding and compensation obligations

EPISD projects lower tax rate, homestead exemptions and bond defeasance will shape 2026 budget outlook