Clear Creek ISD board adopts FY2026–27 budget goals, cites enrollment decline and unfunded mandates

The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district's fiscal year 2026–27 budget goals, assumptions and priorities during its May 18 meeting.

Chief Financial Officer Miss Benzai told trustees the plan aims to return the district to a balanced budget while preserving a two‑month fund balance, retaining a 5% local homestead exemption and maximizing available tax pennies and state funding opportunities. The presentation said the district is planning assuming an enrollment decline of about 1,000 students and will manage staffing and operating costs accordingly.

The board’s action followed extended trustee discussion about revenue options and cost pressures. Trustee Arturo Sanchez and others urged clarity for the public about the difference between maintenance-and-operations funding (affected by state formulas and tax pennies) and interest-and-sinking (bond) funding. Trustees asked staff to add selling surplus properties to budget assumptions as a possible local revenue source and to call out unfunded state mandates as a separate budget challenge.

“Enrollment decline and rising benefit and insurance costs are driving tough tradeoffs,” Miss Benzai said during the presentation. She outlined revenue tools the district can still access, including the remaining local tax pennies and teacher‑incentive allotment programs, and reiterated that salaries and benefits are roughly 90% of district expenditures.

Board members also discussed the potential financial impact of recent and anticipated state policy changes, including new special education funding tiers and other mandates that do not include additional state funding. Trustees emphasized the need for a coordinated legislative and community message about those pressures.

The board approved the goals and priorities as amended; the motion to adopt came from Trustee Larson and passed by unanimous voice vote. The approved statement will guide staff decisions during the 2026–27 budget process and the superintendent’s strategic budget team scheduled to convene in June.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the amended goals into the formal budget development work and return to the board with detailed revenue and expenditure proposals in upcoming meetings.