Round Rock ISD preliminary budget projects $16.5 million shortfall as state and federal funding remain uncertain

At a meeting of the Round Rock Independent School District Board of Trustees, district staff presented a first look at a preliminary 2025–26 budget that projects a $16,500,000 deficit under current assumptions.

The presentation, delivered to the board and Dr. Azais by staff member Dennis, outlined revenue and expenditure assumptions, potential impacts of pending state legislation (House Bill 2) and possible federal funding changes. Dennis told trustees, “as of today, we are projecting a 16,500,000 deficit.”

The budget assumptions shown to trustees include a 92% blended average daily attendance funding rate (to reflect 4-day pre-K funding rules), a 2% property-value increase, a flat maximum compress rate and no guaranteed increase in the basic allotment. Under those assumptions district staff projected total revenue of roughly $461 million and total expenses of approximately $477.36 million, producing the projected shortfall.

District staff described two competing budget effects tied to House Bill 2 as it was written at the time of the meeting: a potential increase in state funding if the basic allotment and school safety allotments increase, and an offsetting change to the state’s…