Uvalde CISD CFO presents proposed 2025–26 budget, warns apparent deficit is a timing issue

The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees held a public hearing to review the proposed 2025–26 budget and proposed tax rate, during which Chief Financial Officer Natalie Bindley detailed revenue assumptions, compensation changes under House Bill 2 and a $4,000,000 maintenance-tax-note expenditure that creates a temporary deficit on paper.

“It's gonna look like we're adopting a deficit budget, which we are adopting a deficit budget, but that comes down to a timing issue on the sale of the maintenance tax notes,” Bindley said, explaining that the district budgeted planned facility work now while note proceeds will be received later.

The presentation and subsequent public comments matter because the district’s funding and staff compensation hinge on refined average daily attendance (ADA), changes created by state legislation and the timing of borrowing for planned facility work. Trustees and several public commenters sought clearer presentation of the timing issues, details on transportation cuts, and faster communication of new pay letters to staff.

Bindley said the district used a refined ADA of 3,097 for 2025–26 revenue estimates and budgeted state allotments created or adjusted by House Bill 2. She described two state-level changes the presentation relied on: an increase in the basic allotment and a new allotment called the ABC (allotment for basic cost), which she said produces roughly $348,000 for the district at the current enrollment figures. The district also budgeted support-staff retention funding of $45 per ADA; at the refined ADA used in the budget, that allotment is about $139,000.

Under…