Budget advisors urge voter-approved tax election to close funding gap as district faces enrollment drop
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Summary
A community-appointed budget advisory committee recommended Socorro ISD pursue a voter-approved tax-rate election (VADER) to address a per-student funding shortfall, while the district CFO warned of a projected enrollment decline that could reduce next year’s revenue by roughly $7 million.
Socorro Independent School District trustees heard a unanimous recommendation from the district’s budget advisory committee to pursue a voter-approved tax-rate election to raise operating revenue, the committee’s vice chair told the board.
The advisory panel, which met four times, concluded that while the district spends proportionally more on instruction than many neighbors, Socorro ISD receives roughly $1,000 less per student compared with nearby districts and operates with one of the lowest local tax rates in the region. "Spending isn't necessarily the issue. It's a funding gap issue," the committee vice chair said, arguing that a voter-approved election is needed to give students "an equitable, reasonable chance" at additional resources.
Chief Financial Officer David Solis presented the district’s preliminary budget outlook and said the district is projecting an enrollment decline of about 725 students next year, a fall that he estimated would trim roughly $7 million from revenue. Solis described a preliminary general-fund shortfall of about $3.2 million in the proposed 2026–27 figures, which district staff said is manageable through further refinement and by holding some vacancies open.
Solis outlined where the district is spending money and how new revenue would be used: roughly 62% of projected expenditures are directed to instruction and instruction-related services, about 15% supports operations such as maintenance and safety, and less than 3% is allocated to central administration. He also described options to stabilize the district’s finances, including a VADER modeled to generate up to about $49.2 million annually depending on voter approval and the number of pennies approved; he noted each penny would equal about $9 per year for the average taxable home in the district example used.
Board members and advisory-committee members stressed that the committee recommended prioritizing voter education and outreach if the district places a tax measure before voters. Committee members said they favored a conservative VADER price point (many suggested a 3–6¢ range) and recommended professional polling and community education to avoid repeating past failed ballot efforts.
The advisory group also recommended expanding sponsorship and facility rental opportunities, continuing separation of incentive programs, and strengthening community voter outreach. On the question of a bond for long-term facility projects, the committee reported majority support but not unanimous consent, so the bond was not recommended as the immediate priority.
Trustees asked about trade-offs tied to the shortfall and potential revenue options; district staff said administrators will return to a budget workshop in May and bring a balanced budget proposal for consideration in June. The board did not take action on the VADER at the meeting; staff said next steps include further community engagement and more detailed budget refinement.
