Judson ISD board reviews $10M‑$13M in proposed cuts, discusses school closures and JECCA

Judson ISD trustees on Tuesday reviewed updated budget forecasts that show a multi‑million dollar shortfall for the 2024‑25 and proposed 2025‑26 fiscal years and discussed a menu of proposed cuts and revenue options, including a voter‑ratification tax election, possible campus closures and program reductions.

The district’s finance presenter told trustees: "The forecast for total revenue at the June of this year is 252,700,000.0, and expenditures are expected to end at $272,000,000, giving us a deficit of 19,200,000.0," and said the district’s base‑budget scenario for next year would produce a deeper shortfall and lower fund balance.

That shortfall and declining fund balance — staff said the district could face a base‑budget deficit that would reduce fund balance to roughly $36.2 million by June 2026 under current assumptions — led administrators to present roughly $18 million in possible local‑fund reductions. Board members and staff narrowed the conversation toward a working target of about $10 million in cuts needed to keep the district near about 60 days of operating expenses; earlier meetings had sought $13 million in reductions.

Why it matters: The board and staff described proposals that, if adopted, would affect staffing, campus operations and programs across the district and could change travel times and services for students and families. Staff emphasized many figures are approximate and that some options would require months of planning before any change would occur.

What staff presented and what trustees discussed

- Revenue and reserves: Staff said the current‑year revenue forecast is about $252.7 million with expenditures near $272 million, producing a roughly $19.2 million gap. In a base‑budget scenario that assumes…