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West Oso ISD reviews nonpayroll budget priorities as lawmakers consider education funding changes
Summary
Superintendent staff reviewed the district’s nonpayroll spending requests, enrollment trends and pending state legislation; trustees discussed facility needs, vehicles, bond timing and the difficulty of planning raises amid uncertain state aid and federal funding.
Finance and administration staff reviewed nonpayroll budget requests and legislative developments for the 2025–26 budget year and discussed how pending state bills could affect district revenue and staff compensation.
District Chief Financial/Administrative staff (Moore) told trustees the district’s goal is a balanced budget and a fund balance consistent with Texas Education Agency guidance, but that “a lot of unknowns” — including the results of the legislative session and federal grant levels — complicate planning. Staff pointed to declining enrollment trends since 2021 and an average-daily-attendance (ADA) projection the district is using for budgeting. Moore said the district is proceeding under current law and will incorporate legislative changes only after they are finalized.
Legislative context and potential impacts Moore reviewed several bills under consideration in Austin that could affect district funding: a broad budget bill (Senate Bill 1), a bill to offset reductions in federal SHARS funding (HB 500), proposals that would increase school funding and teacher pay (House Bill 2), early literacy funding (HB 123) and bond/debt-service limits (HB 19). Moore said the district expects clearer budget templates from school business officials after the legislative session closes.
Trustee questions and maintenance priorities Trustees pressed staff about specific nonpayroll requests in the initial draft budget, including roughly $3.8 million shown for maintenance and facilities (a figure that includes utilities, insurance and large repair projects), a $200,000-plus utility/crew truck request and a $38,000 special-education vehicle that staff said can be paid out of a special-education fund. Trustees requested options for spreading large capital purchases over multiple years or including them in a future bond package.
On raises and compensation, Moore said the district has not built any pay increases into the preliminary nonpayroll figures and will not assume supplemental state funding until legislation is final. Staff and trustees discussed timing: the regular session’s last day for bills to pass is June 2, and the governor’s deadline to sign or veto follows; the district expects to get clearer guidance from the Texas Association of School Business Officials after the session ends.
Ending Staff asked trustees to review the detailed line-item requests and return questions to the business office. Trustees asked staff to return options showing installment/financing alternatives for large purchases and to bring finalized budget worksheets once legislative outcomes are known.
