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Trustees and community press Granbury ISD on fund balance use, bonds and demographic forecasts
Summary
Public attendees questioned district fund balance, use of reserves for repairs, recent enrollment shortfalls vs. forecasts and whether a future bond would unduly burden economically disadvantaged households; administration described fund-balance policy and scheduled a CFO session for further explanation
Granbury ISD trustees and district leaders fielded extended public questions on March 11 about the district’s fund balance, bond timing and recent enrollment figures that differ from prior forecasts.
Resident David Rogers said the district’s fall 2024–25 enrollment rose “by approximately 30 students” and cited a Zanden demographic forecast that had predicted a different (larger) increase. He raised that discrepancy in the context of the May 2024 bond and argued residents were denied a “free and fair election.”
Why it matters: Trustees and administrators said accurate demographic projections and clear financial explanations are central to any future decision about a bond measure, and community members urged transparency on how reserves might affect taxpayers.
At the meeting, speakers discussed a fund-balance figure described in public comments as approximately $24,000,000. District representatives clarified that fund balance is used to cover timing differences in revenue and expenses and that board policy maintains a reserve: “So that part is in policy. 20% operating interest income balance. At all times,” a trustee said in the discussion. The superintendent explained the trade-off of using reserves: “Yes, we could use those funds to fix a roof and we could use them to fix, plumbing issues. But when you use them, they're gone,” she told attendees.
Trustees and attendees discussed previous actions: the district's adopted/amended operating budget figures were described in the meeting as about $93 million in the prior reference and an amended budget of roughly $96 million after accounting for additional purchases (buses and HVAC). The administration said some one-time purchases have been recorded and that staff will continue to manage the budget and report updates.
Next steps: The superintendent and board invited residents to a March 25 “coffee with the CFO” session at 9 a.m. to walk through fund-balance mechanics and recent budget amendments. Trustees also noted that while taxing entities can raise audit or budget questions with the appraisal district, the board’s formal options for HCAD matters are limited.
The district did not take any immediate vote on finances or a bond during the meeting.
