Crowley ISD finance staff presented the district's proposed 2025'026 budget and an accompanying compensation plan during a public hearing, outlining specific raises for teachers, a health-care contribution increase for paraprofessionals and auxiliary staff, and a projected year-end fund balance.

Chief Financial Officer Mr. Fisher told the board the district expects revenues of approximately $203,600,000 and proposed expenditures of about $206,173,000, leaving a projected deficit of roughly $2,500,000. He said the district expects to end the year with a general-fund balance of about $38,700,000, equivalent to 21% of general operating expenditures, and reiterated a target general-fund range of 17% to 21%.

The budget proposal sets specific increases for classroom teachers tied to experience: teachers with 0 to 2 years of experience would receive $2,000; teachers with 3 to 4 years of experience would receive $2,500; and teachers with 5 or more years would receive $5,000. Mr. Fisher said portions of the teacher increases are state pass-through funds related to House Bill 2, and that Crowley ISD is also committing to increases for entry-level teachers.

The administration proposed raising the district's healthcare contribution by $150 per month for all paraprofessionals in pay grades CP1 through CP8 and for auxiliary employees in pay grades 1 and 2; Mr. Fisher said that change could affect roughly 680 employees. All other employees were proposed to receive a 3% increase to midpoint; police officers and a police sergeant were proposed for market equity adjustments of about 6%.

Mr. Fisher described planned use of the workers' compensation fund as part of the budget: a $4,000,000 planned utilization for the upcoming year and an ongoing annual charge that generates roughly $1,700,000 for the workers' comp fund. Trustee Stevenson asked whether funds transferred into the workers' comp fund remain there; Mr. Fisher replied they do.

During board discussion, Trustee Davis thanked finance staff for conservative budgeting and staff sacrifices. Dr. McFarland and Mr. Fisher emphasized that the compensation plan is "baked into" the budget and available on request.

As an action, Doctor Mayfield moved to approve "the 2025'026 budget for the general operating fund, the child nutrition fund, the debt service fund, and the compensation plan as presented." The transcript excerpt provided does not record a second or the vote outcome for that motion.

Why it matters: the proposed budget defines employee compensation and the district's reserve level going into the school year. The board must approve the general operating, child nutrition and debt-service funds before the school year begins, and the compensation plan affects hundreds of staff and classroom pay scales.

What's next: administration said the budget and compensation plan would be presented for board action during the meeting; the transcript does not include an on-the-record vote result in the provided excerpt.