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Waco ISD finance update: enrollment edges up, comptroller property-value error prompts appeal
Summary
District finance staff reported a modest enrollment increase and preliminary projections that could reduce 2025–26 state funding by roughly $2.2 million under current law; administrators said they filed an appeal after the state comptroller notified districts of incorrect property-value reporting affecting tax revenue.
District finance staff presented a budget update that showed a small enrollment gain (about 72 students) and a preliminary projection that, under current law, Waco ISD could face an approximately $2.2 million reduction in foundation school program revenue for 2025–26.
Miss Davis (district finance staff) told the board that enrollment and attendance patterns remain volatile this time of year and that the district’s revised budget currently shows a multi‑million dollar deficit that has been partially mitigated by prior amendments and typical year‑end under‑spending. "Our projected actual is up 72 kids in enrollment," she said, and cautioned the board that projections will be refined as local values and legislative action become clearer.
Finance staff reported a separate issue with state property-value reporting: the comptroller notified districts that a portion of self-reported data was recorded incorrectly because of freeze compression on over-65 homesteads. The district’s delinquent-tax attorney filed an appeal on the first-come, first-served list to seek corrected values. Administration said the appeal could yield additional revenue but did not provide a dollar estimate.
On expenditures, staff summarized that revised spending includes about $15 million of amendments and that projected change in fund balance is in flux. The district also noted potential offsets—savings from telephone bids, flat utility projections due to prior electricity purchases, and an expected uptick in investment earnings—while flagging increased special-education needs that may require an estimated $1.3 million allocation next year.
The board asked clarifying questions about which revenue streams and functions the percentages referred to and confirmed that the administration would return with updated projections after final local values are released at the end of July and as legislative action on school finance becomes clearer.
