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CFBISD projects $12–13M shortfall after 1,400‑student enrollment drop; board weighs staffing and capital choices
Summary
The district told trustees it anticipates a $12–13 million budget shortfall for 2026–27 driven by a year‑over‑year loss of about 1,400 students; leaders described spending reductions to date, five months of fund balance, and plans to right‑size staff while protecting core services and capital replacement cycles.
District finance director Art Martin and superintendent Dr. Eldridge briefed the board on a budget outlook driven by a sharp enrollment decline. The district reported an estimated revenue of about $286 million and projected expenses near $298 million, producing a $12–13 million gap for the coming fiscal year.
Martin said local tax collections supply about 85% of the district’s operating revenue; the district also remains a recapture district and expected to send roughly $14–15 million in recapture payments to the state. He told trustees that the district has lost more than 1,400 students this year — the largest single‑year decline in recent history — and that over the past five years the district is down about 2,200 students overall.
Officials described actions already taken to narrow the gap: $12 million in reduced spending through March compared with the prior year, position controls, vacancy reviews and plans to align staffing with lower enrollment. Martin said the district retains about five months of fund balance but will need to continue evaluating payroll and staffing, which represent the largest controllable expense.
Board members pressed for more detail on enrollment drivers and assumptions used in the revenue projections; staff said demographic trends, declining birth rates, housing affordability and newly available school options likely played roles and that they had conservatively budgeted for continued declines in the coming year.
Trustees and staff discussed capital planning and fleet replacement. The district has added funds to the bus replacement cycle in recent years and reported roughly 135 active buses, about 40% of which are 12 years or older. Board members said they want guardrails so right‑sizing measures are sustainable and do not produce staffing volatility in future years.
