Austin ISD adopts FY2025–26 budget with $19.7 million draw from reserves; fund-balance policy set at 15.21%

The Austin Independent School District board adopted the district's proposed fiscal 2025–26 general fund, food-service and debt-service budgets on June 26, approving a plan that draws $19.7 million from reserves and sets the district's fund balance at 15.21% for the coming year.

The budget presentation, introduced by Superintendent Matias Segura and delivered by interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery, shows projected general-fund revenue of about $1,580,000,000 before recapture, with an operating-expenditure baseline of roughly $984.1 million. Montgomery said the district will continue using conservative enrollment and property-value snapshots while final Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) numbers are certified in July.

District leaders told the board the proposed budget balances several factors: an expected net of roughly $9 million available from recent legislative changes (from an initial $35.9 million estimate with restricted uses), two property sales totaling $45 million, vacancy savings of $15.3 million and multiple planned reductions that together sum to $44 million. Montgomery said the $44 million…