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Brownsville ISD proposes $502.7 million budget for 2026–27 as enrollment declines
Summary
CFO Rosario Pena presented a proposed 2026–27 budget totaling $502.7 million (excluding federal funds), citing a projected enrollment decline to 33,235 and recommending targeted compensation and class‑size investments while noting a projected unassigned fund balance drop to about $90.1 million on July 1, 2026.
Brownsville Independent School District officials on June 23 unveiled a proposed 2026–27 budget that administration says balances student needs, staff compensation and operational commitments amid continuing enrollment declines.
Rosario Pena, the district's chief financial officer, told the Board and public that the district projects total general‑fund revenues of about $501.3 million and debt‑service revenues of $1.4 million for combined projected revenues of $502.7 million, not including federal funds. She said administration is projecting general‑fund expenditures of roughly $488.9 million and total projected expenditures of about $529.1 million, excluding federal funds.
"The proposed budget reflects months of planning, analysis, and collaboration focused on maintaining educational services, supporting employees, and ensuring the district remains financially stable," Pena said during the required public hearing under Texas Education Code Section 44.004. She told trustees enrollment is the primary driver of state funding, reporting a projected fall 2026 enrollment of 33,235 students — roughly 1,102 fewer than the current year — and a cumulative decline of about 7,500 students since 2020–21.
The presentation pointed to several priorities in the packet presented to trustees: instruction (54% of projected expenditures), a proposed 2% general pay increase, market adjustments, decompression placements for classified staff, salary adjustments for some assistant principals and the reclassification of several director roles. Administration also proposed reducing the student‑teacher ratio at fifth grade and middle school levels from 26:1 to 22:1 as an instructional investment.
Pena said the district began fiscal year 2025–26 with an operating fund balance of approximately $131.9 million, but after accounting for commitments and a protected operating deficit of $23.5 million the district expects an estimated unassigned fund balance of roughly $90.1 million at July 1, 2026. "That fund balance remains an important financial resource for managing future uncertainties," she said.
Pena also noted the debt service budget includes a final scheduled bond payment in 2026–27, allowing the district to eliminate an interest and sinking tax rate component for the year and produce a small estimated decrease in homeowners' tax bills under the published taxpayer impact example.
Board members signaled they would proceed with additional questions, a compensation plan presentation and an executive session before final action. The board later amended and adopted both the compensation plan and the budget after executive session (votes recorded 7–0).
