A deficit budget and compensation plan will be tackled by the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first-floor boardroom of the administration building, 802 N. Sam Houston Ave.
The current total tax rate is $1.17792 per $100 valuation. Chief Financial Officer Deborah Ottmers said they will recommend the tax rate stay the same. It will be considered in September.
A public hearing on the 2023-24 budget is on the agenda for the meeting.
Anticipated total revenue for 2022-23 is $319,895,612. But anticipated expenditures are $330,050,000. Ottmers said they anticipate using $10 million of fund balance to make up the difference.
The anticipated fund balance at end of this year is $100,495,046.
For 2023-24, it is anticipated it will be $86,574,997.
A salary study by the Texas Association of School Boards recommended a 3 percent increase for all campus and central office professionals; starting salary for new teachers at $60,600; and a 3 percent increase for hourly employees.
All central office staff shall be included in a 3 percent increase of the new midpoint of their pay grade.
There are additional areas for compensation in 2023-24 such as stipends, supplemental pay and a principal incentive, which is in the works.
Associate Superintendent-Athletics, Human Capital & Operations Anthony Sorola said the raise is about $2,000 a year for teachers.
Midland ISD recently increased their starting teacher salary to $60,500 and bus driver hourly rates to $25 per hour.
At the board’s June 13 meeting, Superintendent Scott Muri recommended the board approve increasing salaries even though it will run the district into a deficit.
Muri said the basic allotment paid per student of $6,111 hasn’t changed in four years.
Muri said June 13 the governor “is going to have to call a special session on funding.” Until then, “what we have is what we have.”
In other business:
- Discussion of and Request for Approval of Board of Trustees Recommendations for Naming Committee. Membership for Dowling Elementary School Playground.
- Discussion of and Request for Approval of the 2023-2024 District Improvement Plan.
- Discussion of and Request for Approval of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Data Transfer and Use Agreement from Brown University to Stanford University.
- Under board policy, discussion of and Request for Approval of Revisions to Local Board Policy: EIC (LOCAL) Academic Achievement: Class Ranking.
- Discussion of and Request for Approval of UIL Exemption List for the 2023-2024 School Year.
- Discussion of and Request for Approval of Revisions to Local Board Policy: FM (LOCAL) Student Activities.
- Discussion of and Request for Approval of TASB Local Policy Update 121 Policies: CFB (LOCAL): Accounting: Inventories and FD (LOCAL): Admissions.
