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District outlines 2025-26 budget, proposes keeping tax rate at 1.1325
Summary
Superintendents staff presented the districts 2025-26 revenue and expenditure plan, including a proposal to maintain the 2024-25 tax rate (1.1325) and a projected general fund deficit of $2.92 million; trustees approved the budget and will adopt a final tax rate in August after financial-adviser review.
Edcouch-Elsa ISD administrators presented the districts proposed 2025-26 budget on June 19, citing revenue sources, expenditure reductions and next steps for setting a final tax rate.
The presenter told trustees the proposed 2025-26 tax rate would be maintained at the same level as 2024-25 (reported as 1.1325) with the M&O/interest-and-sinking split discussed in the presentation. She reported local revenue of $5,300,003.73, state revenue of roughly $45,000,003.13 and federal revenue of $5,572,200 for total revenue of about $56,186,197 and proposed expenditures of $59,106,388, resulting in a projected general-fund deficit of $2,920,191. The presentation also listed special revenue funds (Title I/II/IV, special education cluster, ACE and Perkins) totaling $7,240,411.
Administration described targeted cuts in object codes in the 6200s, 6300s and 6400s, a hiring freeze, and strategies to reclassify some expenses into federal grants in order to reduce the general fund burden while "not compromising instruction," as the presenter said.
Trustees voted to approve the proposed 2025-26 budget after the presentation; the board recorded the motion (moved by Mister Rosano, seconded by Dr. Ochoa) and "motion carries." Board members emphasized the plan to return in August with the final tax rate after consulting with the districts financial adviser.
The district also highlighted substitute usage and personnel costs during superintendent reports: 7,101 substitute calls were logged during the year, with 1,597 coded as personal/sick and 5,251 recorded as NA (nonapplicable) absences; the superintendent reported substitute costs of over $1,000,000 and recommended exploring an internal substitute pool to reduce double pay and improve tracking.
Next steps noted by trustees and administration: consult the financial adviser and present a final tax-rate adoption item in August, continue efforts to shift allowable costs to federal grants where possible, and provide monthly updates on substitute patterns and staffing metrics.
