El Paso ISD Board of Trustees on Monday adopted the district's fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved a multi-part employee compensation package designed to meet a state pay mandate and provide additional district-funded increases.

The board voted 5–0 to adopt a general operating fund budget of $547,288,675, a debt service budget of $53,856,268 and a food and nutrition fund budget totaling the amount presented by administration. Trustees also approved the proposed employee compensation plan, which the district said will cost $26,800,446 to the general operating fund and $470,604 to the food and nutrition fund as presented.

The compensation plan incorporates a state-mandated pay increase for eligible teachers and additional district-funded raises and benefit adjustments. "There is a mandate for a $2,500 increase for teachers who have reached 3 and 4 years of experience and $5,000 increase for teachers with 5 or more years of experience," said Patty Cortez, chief of human capital, during the presentation. Cortez also described a recommended $1,000 increase for teachers in step 0 through year 2 and a 1.5% raise for employees on other pay tables.

Comptroller Maria Alonso reviewed the district's revenue assumptions and projections before the vote. She said the district increased its enrollment-to-attendance ratio estimate from 87.5% to 89.5%, resulting in roughly $2.2 million more in state revenue and noting the district's year-end average daily attendance of 91% supported that change. The proposed expenditures totaled $547,288,675, leaving a projected deficit in the adopted budget that administration described as manageable given the district's projected fund balance.

Alonso and staff presented fund-balance projections showing a beginning fund balance equal to about 80.8 days of operations and a projected ending balance of 66.5 days if the adopted budget is implemented. "It is recommended that we maintain anywhere between 2 to 3 months of fund balance to ensure that we can continue to operate and have continuity of our operations throughout the year," Alonso said.

Trustees asked for and staff committed to follow-up detail. Trustee Sutton requested a breakdown that ties personnel and benefit costs to the district accounting functions so trustees can see where compensation and benefits are coded; Ms. Cortez and Ms. Alonso said personnel and benefits are charged to the function where employees are paid and pledged to supply more detailed function- and position-level lists. The board also discussed health-plan funding: administration recommended a $5 million increase in the district contribution and a 15% increase in the employee contribution to sustain the self-funded medical plan while keeping plan design unchanged.

Public speakers raised concerns about class-size adjustments, program access and specific budget line items. John Auger urged the board to prioritize classroom positions and to protect teachers from layoffs; a number of speakers suggested greater transparency and community involvement in budget decisions. Norma De la Rosa, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, asked the board to continue monitoring finances and requested a $2,500 holiday stipend for employees if additional funds cannot be provided immediately.

The board approved the budget and compensation motions by roll call. The motion to approve the compensation plan was made by Trustee Leverage, seconded by Trustee Sutton and carried 5–0. The motion to adopt the fiscal year 2025–26 budgets was made by Trustee Leverage, seconded by Trustee Osterlund and carried 5–0.

Administration said it will post the approved budget and development calendar on the district website, present certified property values and a proposed tax rate in August, and continue refining department and campus operating budgets. Trustees asked staff to return with additional detail on function-level staffing costs, and several trustees suggested a September report on how temporary classroom combinations (staffing ratio adjustments) were implemented and supported at impacted campuses.

The trustees said they view the budget actions as a step to preserve classroom services while addressing rising benefits costs and legislative changes; staff said they will continue identifying efficiencies and potential additional one-time stipend opportunities if funds become available later in the fiscal year.