Lake Travis ISD trustees review preliminary 2025–26 budget, staffing study and possible reductions

Lake Travis ISD trustees on Tuesday reviewed a preliminary operating budget for the 2025–26 school year, a five‑year fiscal forecast and the results of an external staffing and pay study. Interim Superintendent Dr. Flores and district staff told the board the packet is an early model tied to property‑value projections and pending legislative action on school funding.

The presentation, led by Pam (staff member) and Brad Gerke, director of finance, laid out a set of assumptions including a no‑change enrollment projection for 2025–26, a preliminary 5.5% decrease in taxable appraised values and three revenue scenarios tied to possible outcomes in House Bill 2. "I'm here to present the preliminary, operating budget for next school year, 2526. And this is, again, a preliminary look," Pam said. The packet showed the district facing a general‑fund deficit under current assumptions and a range of impacts depending on whether the legislature increases the basic allotment.

Why it matters: the district said changes in state funding, local property values and recapture (excess local revenue sent to the state) will drive how deep any cuts must be or whether one‑time reserves will be used. The packet projects recapture dropping from about $50.6 million in the current year to roughly $34.0 million next year under one scenario; staff cautioned those…