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GISD trims 2024–25 projected deficit; budget planning for 2025–26 begins amid legislative uncertainty
Summary
CFO Jennifer Hannah told trustees the district amended its 2024–25 budget deficit to about $900,000 from $4.5 million, citing higher enrollment/ADA and a $2 million one-time property-value adjustment; the board discussed 2025–26 timeline, compensation questions and summer-school funding.
Georgetown ISD officials said at the Feb. 4 workshop that the district now expects a smaller deficit for the 2024–25 fiscal year and has begun planning for the 2025–26 budget amid several state-level unknowns.
Jennifer Hannah, identified as the district’s finance lead, told trustees the board adopted a $4.5 million deficit budget last June and has since amended it to about a $900,000 deficit. Hannah attributed the improvement to higher-than-budgeted enrollment and average daily attendance (ADA) and to a one-time approximately $2 million payment from a prior-year property-value adjustment processed through the comptroller’s office.
Hannah outlined the budget timeline: preliminary revenue projections in March; certified preliminary tax values from Williamson County in April; a preliminary budget in May and a final budget adoption in June after certified values are available. She warned that recent and potential legislative changes to school finance could alter timelines and numbers, and noted the district has until Sept. 30 to adopt a tax rate if needed.
Preliminary planning assumptions presented to trustees included an enrollment projection near 14,060 students (about 1.2% growth), ADA estimates in the mid-90% range (presenters cited 94–95% attendance), a conservative property-tax-value growth projection of roughly 7%, and a 99% tax-collection assumption. The district also noted a new charter opening in the area whose effect on fall enrollment remains uncertain.
Hannah said payroll remains the largest expenditure (generally 80–87% of the budget) and that raises remain uncertain pending state action. She said special-education staffing needs and summer-school costs (previously supported by federal grants) will be budget items the district must cover; presenters said some federal funding sources have diminished and summer programs will be paid from local funds unless new grants appear.
Trustees discussed compensation items that have been implemented this year: a midyear pay adjustment implemented in December that added $0.50 for pay grade 3 employees; and enhanced stipends for large elementary class sizes and for special-education caseloads. Presenters said the additional-class stipend equates to $1,111 per month for affected teachers and that retroactive pay calculations could produce payments of roughly $1,900 in a February paycheck in some cases. The district said many such stipends are funded from vacancy savings or enrollment-driven additions but acknowledged some were funded to meet emergent needs.
Hannah told trustees the district will open New Frost Elementary in the fall; administrators said no rezoning decisions had yet been made. She urged trustees that legislative items—particularly any changes in homestead exemptions or mandated compensation increases—could affect the district’s interest-and-sinking capacity and overall budget for next year.
The board will continue budget workshops in March and April as values and state guidance become clearer.
