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San Angelo ISD trustees confront enrollment drop, weigh insurance options and one‑time supplements
Summary
Trustees heard a budget briefing showing a steep enrollment decline and an estimated $3M operating gap; administrators proposed two employee insurance/compensation options — a recurring raise to $500 monthly contribution plus stipend or a one‑time $1,000 supplement — with final action scheduled at the regular meeting.
The San Angelo Independent School District Board of Trustees on July 13 heard a budget update that highlighted a sharp enrollment decline and prompted debate over how to offset employee insurance increases and protect staff pay.
Dr. Brandon, who delivered the budget presentation, said the district lost 536 students this year and is projecting further drops next year, a trend he attributed largely to lower birth rates. "We know the declining student enrollment," he said, describing the cascading effect on kindergarten and higher grades and the resulting revenue loss.
The loss in enrollment contributed to an estimated $4.5 million reduction in revenue this year, Dr. Brandon said, and local tax revenue fell by about $2 million due to a tax freeze. He also listed major capital and operating demands — bus orders, stadium turf and HVAC work — that interact with the general fund and left the board with a conservative estimated ending fund balance near $42,000,000.
To address rising employee insurance costs, administrators presented two options. Option A would raise the district contribution to $500 per month and provide a $500 December stipend (an estimated $1.4 million cost). Option B would keep the monthly contribution at the current $479 and provide a $1,000 one‑time December supplement (about $1.8 million).
"If we covered the $37" increase so employee‑only coverage would be $5.57 per month, Dr. Brandon said, "that's what I'm trying to figure out" in terms of cost impact. Board members pressed for clarity on the net cost per employee and the implications for the district's multi‑year budget, noting the difference between a recurring expense and a one‑time payout.
Board President Taylor Kingman emphasized the district's priority to care for employees while preserving fiscal stability. "We need to figure out how to take care of our people," Kingman said, urging that any decision be communicated clearly to staff so it is not misinterpreted as a reduction in benefits.
Trustees discussed phased payment timing, safeguards for mid‑year departures (with typical language removing supplemental payment if an employee leaves before the next pay period), and asked administrators to present precise dollar deltas ahead of the July 20 regular meeting so the board can act with clearer numbers.
The board did not take final action on insurance or compensation at the pre‑agenda meeting but scheduled the item for the July 20 regular meeting for a formal vote.
