Budget In Focus 2010-2011 - San Antonio Independent School District

Legislative Changes
The Texas Legislature meets in regular session in odd-numbered years. During these sessions,
the Legislature approves the state budget, which includes funding for local school districts. The
81 st Legislative Session, which convened in January 2009, approved House Bill 3646 (HB 3646)
for school finance effective for the school years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
The major impacts of HB 3646 to school districts included: 1) a mandatory wage increase of at
least $800 per year for employees subject to the minimum salary schedule, including teachers,
librarians, nurses, speech pathologists, and counselors; 2) the use of State Fiscal Stabilization
Funds (SFSF) in the State Foundation Program (SFP) revenues; and 3) a return to formula-based
funding from the previous target revenues that were based on 2006-07 revenues. The SFSF
revenue is a result of the Legislature using federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) funds to cover shortfalls in the Foundation School Program. Even though the SFSF is
part of the FSP, districts are required to submit a separate application for the SFSF and maintain
compliance with federal requirements when expending these funds.
Priorities for the 2012-13 Biennium
The upcoming 82 nd legislative session of the state of Texas will be closely watched as legislators
prepare to deal with a record budget shortfall at the state level. The impact on the funding for
education remains to be seen, but public school districts in Texas are facing the possibility of a
significant decrease in funding from current levels. Texas Education Agency Commissioner
Robert Scott states that TEA has taken a “very deliberative approach to the 2012-2013 legislative
appropriation reduction request. Agency priorities and recommended reductions were designed
specifically to maximize fiscal resources without compromising the agency’s ability to execute on
the state’s ambitious education agenda.” Mr. Scott lists TEA’s three major priorities as follows:
1. Maintain focus on the goal of preparing all students in Texas for success in college and
career;
2. Pursue policies and strategies to help Texas school districts and campuses succeed in a
tough fiscal environment; and,
3. Support innovative teacher recruitment, retention, and reward policies to ensure all Texas
students have access to effective teachers
In the midst of the budgetary concerns, the state, school districts, and students in Texas are
gearing up for significant changes in assessment and accountability measures. The goal of these
changes is to increase student achievement and to provide greater accountability for
administrators and teachers.
There is no doubt that this next Legislative session presents fiscal challenges for state government
in general and for public education.
Major Changes for the 2010-11 Budget
Due to a realization of savings through prior year campus closures, the District was able to
include in the 2010-11 budget a 1.5% average salary increase for all employees, which amounted
to a $5.2 million increase in payroll expenditures in all funds. This is the second raise approved
for employees since 2006-07. In addition, the starting salary for new teachers was increased
which now enables SAISD to be more competitive with other districts in the area.
2010-2011
District Budget Executive Summary
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