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Austin ISD trustees lean toward 15% reserve as staff outline $181M shortfall and staffing trade-offs
Summary
At an April 30 work session, Austin ISD staff said the district faces a $181 million gross general-fund deficit; trustees signaled support for a 15% fund-balance target and asked staff for detailed, line-by-line proposals and clearer staffing-to-program connections before formal budget votes.
Austin Independent School District staff told trustees on April 30 that the district's preliminary general-fund budget shows a $181 million gross deficit and includes a $50 million placeholder for property monetization. Chief Financial Officer Katrina McGomery presented three reserve scenarios — holding a 15%, 16% or 17% fund balance — and said the district would need reductions of roughly $127 million, $135 million or $143 million, respectively, after the monetization placeholder.
Why it matters: trustees must choose how conservative to be when setting the budget's revenue assumptions and reserve target. That choice will determine the depth and timing of cuts to staffing and programs in a budget where roughly 87–88% of operating dollars pay for payroll and benefits.
What staff presented: McGomery said staff reworked the recommended…
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