SFDR CISD board approves 2024–25 amended budgets and commits $5.64 million for capital projects

The San Felipe‑del Rio CISD Board of Trustees on June 30 approved amended 2024–25 budgets for the general, debt service and food service funds and adopted a resolution to commit $5,641,556 of excess general‑fund balance to specific projects and purchases.

The administration presented figures showing proposed 2024–25 revenue and expenditure amendments: a proposed general fund revenue budget increase of $1,673,300 to a total of $103,981,464 and a proposed general fund expenditure budget of $114,039,625 (a planned deficit of $10,058,161 reflecting operating and committed activity). The debt service fund revenue was proposed at $6,158,360 with expenditures of $7,006,793 (a $848,426 deficit). The food service fund revenue was proposed at $8,311,323 with expenditures of $9,990,331 (a $1,679,008 deficit). The administration said fund balances are available to cover the projected deficits.

For 2024–25 the administration forecast operating revenues of $102,464,693 and operating expenditures of $101,898,481, and identified $6,076,983 in committed project dollars, producing an overall forecasted deficit of $5,510,771. The beginning general fund balance was listed as $40,046,325 and estimated ending fund balance as $34,088,685 after commitments and inventory; the district’s 75‑day minimum required fund balance was $21,629,842, leaving an estimated excess of $12,458,843. The administration proposed committing $5,641,556 of that excess.

The projects and commitments included both carryover and new items: the Cody Wardlaw gym renovation (district and city contributions), Del Rio Middle School parking lot, security fencing at San Felipe Memorial Middle School (including the recently purchased Water Street property), continuation of self‑funded insurance claims, middle school turf projects at San Felipe Memorial and Garfield Middle School, multiple HVAC repairs and maintenance across campuses, Del Rio High School stadium LED lights, gym floor refinish at San Felipe Memorial Middle School, warehouse asphalt replacement, purchases of used service vehicles for maintenance, security and warehouse departments, campus metal detectors and miscellaneous purchase‑order carryovers. The administration said the turf drawings had just been received and that a contract would be brought to the board at the July meeting; purchasing criteria will include timeliness of completion.

Trustees asked several operational questions. They confirmed security fencing is planned to include the Water Street property; administrators said LED stadium lights are intended to replace dim fixtures and could last decades, though replacement before football season was uncertain. Trustees pressed on HVAC needs at Lamar and Cardwell elementary campuses; administration said immediate needs include Lamar and Cardwell cafeterias and gym and that Del Rio Middle School is operating on a single chiller while Schneider (the vendor) develops a plan.

The board approved the 2024–25 amended budgets (motion by Diego Almaraz, seconded by Mr. Galindo), approved the resolution committing fund balance (motion by Mr. Galindo, seconded by Mr. Diego Morales), and approved the 2025–26 general‑fund budget amendment to include the commitments (motion by Mr. Diego Morales, seconded by Emilio Glamingo).