Ector County ISD board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves amendments and hires new CFO

Ector County Independent School District trustees on June 24 adopted the district’s proposed 2025–26 official budget and approved a series of related fiscal actions, including a final 2024–25 budget amendment and a resolution to commit portions of the fund balance under GASB 54. Trustees also approved a personnel recommendation to hire Alvesa Chavez as the district’s next chief financial officer.

A trustee moved to adopt the 2025–26 official budget — covering the general fund, the school nutrition fund and the debt service fund — “as presented in accordance with Texas Education Code section 44 and the Texas Tax Code chapter 26,” and the motion passed on a voice vote. Finance staff had presented estimated revenues of about $369 million and expenditures of roughly $373 million for a projected $4 million deficit in the general fund for 2025–26, warning that the final numbers may change as certified property values and staffing needs are finalized.

The budget presentation reviewed district size and priorities: roughly 34,000 students across 44 schools and about 4,200 staff, with an emphasis on retaining programs and staff and meeting required teacher salary increases. Payroll and benefits were reported as the largest expenditure category (about 76% of the general fund). The presenter said the district aims to preserve an available fund balance near 90 days of expenditures and noted that bond payment timing (an approximately $31 million payment shortly after year‑end) affects near‑term cash flow.

Trustees also approved Budget Amendment No. 8 for 2024–25, which staff described as reallocations across the same three funds with net changes to revenues and fund balances intended to keep the budget compliant with TEA requirements. The board then approved a resolution committing parts of the fund balance in accordance with GASB 54 to cover maintenance, bus purchases, career‑tech items and other restricted uses.

On personnel, the board moved, seconded and approved the recommendation to hire Alvesa Chavez as chief financial officer. The motion passed by voice vote.

Board members asked several follow‑up questions during the meeting, including requests for additional information about bilingual testing at a specific campus and clarifications about the timing of bond sales and tax‑rate calculations. Staff committed to follow up with more detailed information where needed.

The board’s vote to adopt the budget concludes the public hearing on the 2025–26 proposed budget; certified property values will be received in July and the district plans to finalize tax‑rate calculations with the appraisal district and TEA guidance before adopting a tax rate in September.