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ECISD faces $10.5M structural shortfall under current law; trustees discuss teacher raises mandated by Legislature
Summary
District finance staff presented a budget update showing a projected $10.5 million deficit under current-law calculations, a fund-balance projection of roughly 117 days and possible required teacher pay increases tied to recent legislative proposals. Trustees discussed a 2% raise for non-teaching staff as a likely response.
A district finance presentation at the ECTOR COUNTY ISD Board of Trustees meeting on May 20 outlined a projected $10.5 million budget shortfall for 2025-26 under current-law assumptions and described uncertainty from ongoing legislative action in Austin.
The finance presenter told trustees the most recent Senate changes to the House bill significantly altered earlier estimates and that available numbers were still based on 2019 law; staff warned those assumptions could change as the legislature finalizes funding formulas.
Key points and figures
- Projected deficit: Under current-law assumptions presented to the board, the district faces a $10,500,000 deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year if no additional state funding is provided or local tax-rate adjustments are made.
- Fund balance days: Even with the deficit, the district—stimated roughly 117 days of fund balance at year-end, about 27 days above the 90-day recommended minimum. Finance staff said one day of expenditures is roughly $1 million.
- Proposed teacher compensation in the Legislature: The updated proposal discussed at the meeting would increase per-district revenue by about $11.7 million statewide for ECTOR COUNTY ISD—ut carries "strings" such as prescribed salary increases for teachers at certain experience levels. The presenter said the bill's provisions would require district-paid benefits and would not fully fund pension costs.
- Cost of raises: Trustees and staff discussed the fiscal impact of teacher salary requirements and potential raises for other employees. The presenter said the teacher salary-plus-benefits cost to the district would be about $8 million; a 1% raise for non-teaching staff would cost about $2.7 million, 2% about $3.5 million and 3% about $4.3 million.
Trustee discussion and direction
Trustees expressed concern about the pace and structure of legislative changes and urged outreach to state lawmakers. Multiple trustees said they view equity for all employees as important; several trustees voiced support for a 2% raise for non-teaching staff as a pragmatic target to include in the budget given current revenue uncertainty.
Finance staff said some previously planned infrastructure purchases (E-rate items) account for roughly half of the projected $10.5 million deficit because those costs will be paid from the general fund and then reimbursed over several years.
Why it matters: The budget gap and the Legislature ctions will influence the district dopted budget, staffing decisions and potential future requests to taxpayers for additional revenue. Trustees scheduled a June workshop and a special meeting later in June for final budget adoption and tax-rate notices.
Next steps
Staff will update the board at a June 10 workshop with any legislative changes and will bring a budget proposal to the board for adoption before statutory deadlines in late June. Trustees were urged to contact state lawmakers to advocate for clearer funding that would reduce local budget pressure.
