Socorro ISD faces $38 million shortfall; administration recommends reductions including elementary fine arts redesign amid weeks of public protest

Interim Superintendent Jim Vasquez told the Socorro Independent School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 19 that the district faces a projected $38 million budget gap for the 2025–26 school year and presented a package of staffing and program changes intended to restore solvency.

The board meeting drew a long public comment period focused on the proposed reductions. Dozens of teachers, students, parents and community members urged the district to avoid cutting classroom positions and to protect elementary music and art jobs. ‘‘Cutting the fine arts would be a huge mistake,’’ music teacher Victoria Soto told trustees during open forum.

Why this matters: Vaquez said at the meeting that if the district fails to close its projected budget gap it risks being insolvent — ‘‘which in other words means we would have to declare financial exigency,’’ he said — a step that legal and financial advisers said could lead to a state takeover or appointment of a board of managers. District leaders cited several causes for the shortfall including declining enrollment, prior years of deficit budgeting and continuing health‑plan transfers from the general fund.

What administration presented: Vaquez and Chief Financial Officer David Solis summarized the district’s financial position and a multi‑element plan to reduce costs and increase revenue. Key figures the administration gave the board: - Projected deficit to address for 2025–26: $38,000,000. Vaquez said the figure results from an adopted deficit budget carried over, projected additional hires this year, an anticipated enrollment decline of about 700 students (estimated revenue loss roughly $7 million), and continued required transfers to the employee health fund. - Current fall 2023 enrollment snapshot: 47,204 students (down 537 students from the year prior). Solis also reported a 57% reduction in fund balance reserves since recent shortfalls. - Cash on hand projection at fiscal year end: about $18.1 million (roughly 14 days of operating expenses);…