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Mercedes ISD earns A (Superior Achievement) under Texas FIRST; board reviews disclosures
Summary
Mercedes ISD reported a total weighted FIRST score of 98 for FY 2022–23, earning an "A" (Superior Achievement). CFO Sylvia Garza walked trustees through 21 FIRST indicators and related supplemental disclosures; no members of the public spoke and the hearing was adjourned unanimously.
Mercedes Independent School District trustees heard a presentation Dec. 17, 2024, from Chief Financial Officer Sylvia Garza reporting that the district earned an "A" (Superior Achievement) under the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2023. Garza told the board Mercedes ISD received a total weighted sum of 98 points on the 2022–23 FIRST evaluation.
Garza reviewed the FIRST critical indicators and solvency measures used by the Texas Education Agency. She said the district met Critical Indicators #1 through #4 (timely AFR filing, an unmodified auditor opinion, compliance with debt-payment terms, and timely payments to retirement and payroll tax authorities). On solvency metrics she reported: days of cash on hand and current investments in the general fund scored 10 out of 10 points for FY 2022–23; the current assets-to-current liabilities ratio scored 8 out of 10 points; and general fund revenues equaled or exceeded expenditures (10 out of 10). Garza also reported Fiscal Indicator #10 (budget-to-actual revenue variance) scored 10 points and several other indicators scored full points where applicable.
On staffing and enrollment measures, Garza said the students-to-staff ratio change produced a value of 0.0645 (below the 0.15 threshold) and therefore earned full points for the indicator in 2022–23. She reported Indicator #15 (average daily attendance within the district's submitted biennial projection) earned the maximum five points for FY 2022–23. Garza said the district met the PEIMS-to-AFR variance test, and auditors reported no material weaknesses or material noncompliance for the years reviewed.
Garza also reviewed required supplemental disclosures: the superintendent's contract, a summary of reimbursements to the superintendent and board members, outside compensation disclosures, gifts reported by executive officers or board members, and any business transactions. Garza said the superintendent's contract and the 2022–23 disclosures were attached to the presentation and available on the district website; when Member Rachel Trevino asked what was included in the reimbursement category labeled "other," Garza replied it referred to training registration fees.
No members of the public signed up to speak during the public hearing. Following the presentation, Secretary Oscar Hernandez moved to adjourn the public hearing at 5:43 p.m.; Member Ricardo Hinojosa seconded, and the board voted that the motion passed unanimously. The board then took a short recess.
The presentation was report-only; Garza and staff did not present new policy proposals or budget amendments during the hearing. The district's FIRST rating and the posted supplemental disclosures will remain available on the Mercedes ISD website for reference.
