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Liberty Hill ISD outlines local revenue plans and $3.7M in preliminary budget reductions as trustees weigh deeper cuts
Summary
At a March budget workshop, district finance leaders presented a March projection showing a roughly $1.28 million shortfall and proposed local revenue options — including a $40 nonrefundable or $200 refundable device fee and bus advertising — alongside phased staffing and budget cuts that administrators say would save about $6.3 million before growth add‑backs.
Liberty Hill Independent School District finance staff on Wednesday detailed a March budget projection that trims local revenue and asks trustees to consider several new local revenue streams while approving initial cuts to address a projected deficit.
Rosanna Guerrero, the district’s finance lead, told trustees that the state’s widely cited $15,503 per‑student figure is misleading because it mixes maintenance‑and‑operations dollars with earmarked bond interest, federal and temporary funds and other non‑operational items. She said LHISD’s maintenance‑and‑operations figure in 2022–23 was $9,191 per student, below the state average of $10,740.
"That $15,503 figure is extremely misleading," Guerrero said, adding that much of the cited total "cannot be used for students or operations." She urged the board to consider realistic local options while continuing to press lawmakers in Austin.
To close part of the gap, the Finance Committee recommended several near‑term revenue measures the district could implement quickly. The committee proposed a two‑option technology device fee for secondary students who take devices home: a $40 nonrefundable option or a $200 refundable option that would be returned if the device is returned in good condition. Trustees were told the refundable/nonrefundable choice is intended to keep devices accessible while covering repair costs.
The committee also recommended selling or leasing surplus land (with legal caveats about tax‑exempt status and bond structuring),…
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