Edcouch-Elsa ISD presents 2025–26 budget that holds tax rate, shows $2.92 million deficit
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
District staff proposed a 2025–26 budget that keeps the same tax rate as 2024–25, outlines revenues and federal grant totals, and projects a $2,920,191 deficit; board was told staff will return in August with a final rate after advisor review.
Sylvia, a district budget presenter, told the Edcouch-Elsa ISD Board of Trustees that the district’s proposed 2025–26 tax rate will remain the same as 2024–25 and that the administration will return in August to adopt a final rate after consulting the district’s financial advisor. “The 25–26 proposed tax rate ... we’re maximizing 17¢,” Sylvia said, and presented a rate of 1.1325.
Sylvia presented the draft budget’s revenue and expenditure figures and related program totals. She said local revenues are $5,300,003.73; state revenues are about $45,000,003.13; and federal revenues are roughly $5,572,200 (federal totals include Title I, Title II, Title IV and special education clusters). Sylvia summarized total general-fund expenditures at $59,106,388 and said the draft shows a deficit of $2,920,191 for 2025–26. She also said special-revenue funds (federal program grants including Title I/II/IV, special education cluster, ACE grant and Perkins CTE) total $7,240,411.
Sylvia said the general operating budget reflects cuts to object codes in the 62xx, 63xx and 64xx ranges and that the team will continue to look for expenditure reductions “without compromising instruction.” She listed measures discussed at prior meetings, including a hiring freeze and reclassifying some operating costs to federal grants where allowable. Sylvia said staff will review House Bill implementation (HB 2) and “bring back to the board the revised, realignment of that HB2 budget.”
On debt service, Sylvia said the district will consult its financial advisor to review the tax rate to ensure it covers debt obligations and to verify any legislative constraints related to principal payments. She added that the debt-service fund is expected to generate an excess fund balance.
Board members asked clarifying questions during presentation; Sylvia said staff will continue to refine the draft and present a final tax rate and budget for adoption in August. The board approved the 2025–26 proposed budget later in the meeting by voice vote (motion made by Mister Rosano; seconded by Doctor Ochoa; motion carries).