Board approves Finance & Operations Advisory Committee charter; committee to meet in June and July
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Summary
The board approved a charter to form a Finance and Operations Advisory Committee made up of trustee appointees, superintendent appointees and community representatives. The committee will hold four meetings in June/July and deliver recommendations to the board on July 23.
The Socorro ISD Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a charter to form a Finance and Operations Advisory Committee that will advise district leaders and trustees on budget planning and financial options ahead of the 2025‑26 budget decisions.
Administration described the committee as a stakeholder‑focused body meant to improve transparency and community engagement on budget tradeoffs. Daniel Escobar, chief communications officer, summarized several months of stakeholder discussions in which roughly 350 participants reviewed the district’s fiscal picture and submitted feedback. Common themes included concerns about job security, clarity on tax‑rate options, health insurance funding and a desire for transparent communications.
Under the approved charter, each trustee may appoint two community members and the superintendent will appoint two additional members; invitations will also be extended to community organizations and public partners (for example, the cities, Fort Bliss and employee associations). The board president will name the committee chair and vice chair. Administration said the committee would operate in an advisory capacity only and would not replace the board’s decision‑making role.
Staff proposed four meetings — two in June and two in July — with tentative dates of June 12, June 19, July 10 and July 17, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. meal and 6 p.m. start; materials will be posted publicly and staff said the sessions will be open, though they will not be formal board meetings subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act. The committee’s deliverable is a written recommendation for the board’s July 23 regular meeting.
Trustee Guerra moved to approve the charter and Trustee Woodcraft seconded. Trustees asked staff to ensure committee materials are posted online, to consider minority opinions alongside majority recommendations, and to recruit members who reflect the geographic areas and stakeholder groups served by the district. Administration will follow up individually with trustees to collect appointee names.