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Board approves budget amendment and amended compensation plan as CFO outlines improved year-end fund balance
Summary
Board voted 4–0 to approve an amendment reflecting 89th/80th legislative-session funding changes and an amended 2025–26 compensation plan; CFO reported an unaudited year‑end increase in fund balance after closing prior-year deficit.
At the July meeting Castleberry ISD trustees approved budget amendment No. 1 and an amended 2025–26 compensation plan, and the district CFO presented an unaudited year-end financial snapshot showing an improved fund balance.
William Wooten, chief financial officer, said the proposed budget amendment reflects statutory and programmatic changes from the most recent legislative session (described in the presentation as House Bill 2 guidance) and funds statutory increases in teacher retention allotment, support-staff retention, safety and security allotment, TRS on‑behalf contributions, and a 2 percent compensation increase for remaining employees. Wooten told the board the district expects roughly $2.5–3.2 million in new state revenue from the legislation and proposed covering remaining shortfalls with vacancies, interest earnings and indirect-cost recoveries.
Wooten presented an unaudited June 30 snapshot showing the district budgeted $45.9 million and projected spending of $44.2 million for a net increase in fund balance of about $779,000. He told the board the previous-year $4.7 million deficit had been substantially closed and that expense controls and indirect-costs recovery contributed to the positive result.
The board took the following recorded actions during the meeting (tally reported on the record as 4–0):
- Consent agenda (motion carried 4–0). - Approval of the amended 2025–26 compensation plan (motion carried 4–0). - Approval of Budget Amendment No. 1 (motion carried 4–0).
Wooten warned that projections depend on certified property values and July 2025 certified values could change revenue estimates; he read a disclaimer that revenue projections represent best available information and will be updated as new data arrive. The CFO said external auditors were conducting field work in July and an onsite audit visit is scheduled later in October with a final audit report planned for November.
Catherine Walker, who introduced a new hire earlier in the meeting, and board members asked about compensation‑related equity adjustments and staff support; Walker and Wooten said targeted equity changes were proposed for assistant principals, campus academic leaders, and instructional coaches to align pay rates with teaching increases.
