United ISD presents balanced $466.5 million budget as public speakers warn of a $30 million shortfall and payroll timing problems

United Independent School District finance staff presented a proposed $466.5 million balanced operating budget to trustees at an August 2025 workshop, while public commenters and several trustees warned the district faces a projected shortfall for the 2024–25 year and pressed officials on payroll timing, campus priorities and capital planning.

The budget presentation was led by Lila Benavides, United ISD budget staff, and Sam Flores, district finance. Benavides said the district is presenting "a budget, a balanced budget" for adoption and described raises, program expansions and conservative enrollment assumptions. "We are bringing a budget, a balanced budget for adoption since August 2021," Benavides said.

Why it matters: public commenters said the district’s fund balance and cash-flow timing could impose hardship on employees and create fiscal stress if enrollment or collections fall. Leticia (Letty) Juarez, a public commenter who identified herself as a former chief accountant, told trustees the district’s projected fund balance “ending August 31 is 66,600,000” and said that means the district is "projected to incur a deficit of more than 30,000,000 for the 2425 school budget." Juarez urged earlier, more aggressive cost-control measures.

Payroll timing and employee impact: David Pettis, local president of the United Classroom Teacher Association, told the board the district’s monthly…