HOUSTON, Texas — Lamar CISD has managed to turn around its anticipated budget shortfall for the fiscal year 2024-25, now expecting a $537,740 surplus, according to Chief Financial Officer Jill Ludwig during an Aug. 5 special board meeting.
This marks a significant shift from the June 25 board meeting, where Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens warned of a potential $200,000 deficit. Meanwhile, 11 of 16 Greater Houston-area school districts are still grappling with budget shortfalls for FY 2024-25.
Budget Overview
Lamar CISD officials project expenditures of $473.83 million against revenues of $473.29 million for the FY 2024-25 budget, as outlined by Ludwig. The district’s general fund revenue primarily comes from state funding (55.75%), with local property taxes contributing about 43.89%, and federal funding making up the smallest portion.
Enrollment and Attendance Projections
State revenue estimates are based on an anticipated student enrollment of 46,174 for the upcoming school year, an increase of over 1,600 students compared to the 44,512 enrolled in 2023-24, per Texas Education Agency data. Additionally, the district’s average daily attendance (ADA) rate is expected to be 94.5% next year, which also influences state funding.
Ludwig emphasized the importance of enrollment growth and consistent attendance, saying, “The enrollment growth is really what keeps us going plus the attendance rate, so we got to keep the kids in the class.”
Budget Breakdown
Approximately 84% of the general fund is allocated for staff salaries. In late May, the board approved raises for teachers and other staff, including:
– Increasing the starting teacher salary from $62,500 to $64,100.
– Providing a flat $2,000 raise for teachers and staff on the teacher salary schedule, such as nurses, librarians, and counselors.
– Granting a 3% raise for all other staff based on the midpoint.
Tax Rate Proposal
Lamar CISD plans to propose a property tax rate of $1.1469 per $100 valuation, slightly lower than the current rate of $1.1492 for FY 2023-24. This reduction is attributed to the state’s mandated compression, approved by the 88th Texas Legislature to alleviate the financial burden of property taxes on residents.
Next Steps
The board of trustees will review and consider approving the FY 2024-25 budget and the proposed tax rate on Aug. 27, with a public hearing scheduled for the same day.
