Brazosport ISD budget update: projected deficit narrows; TASB pay‑study offers multiple teacher‑pay scenarios

Brazosport ISD administrators updated trustees on the district’s budget outlook and a preliminary employee compensation study conducted by TASB, reporting improved projections for 2024–25 and presenting three preliminary teacher‑pay models.

Finance update: Chief financial staff reported the district adopted the 2025 budget with a projected $11.7 million deficit and had originally budgeted Chapter 313 revenue at $6 million; payments are now expected to be about $12.5 million, exceeding earlier expectations. The district’s average daily attendance (ADA) was reported at about 10,016 (budgeted at 10,086). The administration said special‑education mainstream ADA was somewhat lower than projected but other special‑education services outperformed expectations, adding approximately $1 million in revenue. The district projected ending the year with a fund balance of about $38.2 million, slightly above a stated target of $38.1 million, and said the projected deficit had improved to a $5.6 million shortfall, an improvement of about $6.1 million compared with the original forecast.

Administration also said nearly $9.7 million in expenditure reductions had been identified through staffing and departmental reviews; the largest single driver was the proposed fiscal‑year change, which staff estimated would produce a one‑time savings of roughly $5 million for the transition year.

Legislative context: Staff briefed trustees on ongoing 88th Texas Legislature proposals, including House Bill 2, which the presentation said would raise the Basic Allotment from $6,160 to $6,555 and could produce an estimated $6.9 million in additional state aid for the district under the draft proposals. Staff cautioned the Senate may propose different language and that any final outcome would affect the district’s projections.

Compensation: Jennifer Neighbors (human resources) briefed trustees on a TASB market analysis of teacher pay. TASB provided three preliminary teacher‑pay models: a 3% increase (estimated cost cited in the presentation ~ $1.6 million net after prior one‑time payouts were factored in), a 5% model (estimated cost presented ~ $2.8 million, with a net impact after prior one‑time payments stated in the presentation), and a 6% model (estimated cost cited ~ $3.3 million). Neighbors noted the district already issued a 3% one‑time payment this year (described in the presentation as a “3% midpoint payment”) and staff modeled the cost with and without rolling that payment into the salary schedule; the presentation warned the market is moving and that TASB recommended aiming above the current market median to remain competitive.

Staff survey: The administration reported a budget‑development survey with 444 staff responses. Staff pay rates were ranked the highest priority by respondents; classroom aides/support and staff retention/morale were top concerns. A majority of respondents preferred email newsletters for budget updates. Trustees asked several detailed questions about how the one‑time payment and rolling it into next year’s schedule changed the net cost of a multi‑percent pay model; HR and finance staff walked through the modeling and said the full compensation proposal for all employee groups will be presented in May.

No board action was required on the reports; trustees said they welcomed additional detail and a full compensation proposal at a future meeting.