Waxahachie ISD projects $2M–$2.5M year-end deficit; property-tax collections tracking above recent years

The district’s finance presenter delivered the midyear financial update, describing revenue drivers, staffing costs and a preliminary deficit projection.

Key figures presented: the district’s budgeted property-tax revenue for the year is $63,600,000, and through Dec. 31 the district had collected about $27,500,000 (approximately 43% of the budget). The fall semester ADA was reported at 10,415 — about 166 students behind the budgeted ADA — which the presenter estimated equates to roughly $1,034,000 of funding at an assumed $6,116 per ADA day. Contracted staffing to cover vacancies in special education was estimated to add about $800,000 in expenditures.

Combining the lower-than-budget ADA and increased expenditures, the presenter said the district anticipates a year-end deficit in the range of $2.0 million to $2.5 million, though that projection depends on attendance recovery in spring and other variables. He cautioned the presentation was a midyear forecast, not a guarantee of final results.

The presenter reviewed demographic context and birth-rate trends regionally and noted significant open elementary capacity (roughly 587 open functional elementary seats) and potential staffing-cost implications (~$2.95M estimated staffing cost tied to current open elementary seats). Board members asked about the timetable for issuing debt and building Frankie Loujette Elementary; staff said the referendum authorizes debt issuance for up to 10 years and the district would have until May 2033 to issue the debt before arbitrage concerns — with some flexibility up to about 2036 depending on timing and rules.

The update was informational; trustees asked follow-up questions and staff offered to return with more detailed budget options.