SAN MARCOS CISD
The San Marcos CISD school board voted to adopt a $94,648,852 General Fund budget for the 2025-2026 school year with total expenditures of all funds planned for $10 million less than last year. The budget passed after a 6-1 vote for the General Fund. The estimated revenues for the next school year from the General Fund balance is $88,058,849, leaving a $6,590,003 budgeted shortfall. The General Fund is effectively all of the district’s expenditures excluding food service and debt service expenditures.
According to district officials, the majority of the budget goes to instruction which includes salaries for teachers. Many first year teachers were let go after the last school year as well as teachers who did not meet TEA certification requirements. Additional cuts were made to tighten the budget, which included eliminating positions or realigning positions.
During the June 16 regular scheduled board meeting the district was presented two budget propositions with different total expenditures. The option that did not pass proposed an expenditure at $94,275,669 with the same estimated total revenue.
“The primary difference between the two proposals is the cost of health insurance premiums,” said Denise Gonzales-Garcia, Chief Financial Officer. SMCISD currently pays the $445 premium for its employees who qualify for health care. The rate through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas will increase by $39 dollars for the 20252026 school year. Out of the proposed budgets the school board decided to adopt the higher expenditure, absorbing the $39 per employee increase instead of making employees pay the $39 out of pocket.
On June 4 Governor Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 2 which invests $8.5 billion into public education in Texas. This includes mandatory raises for teachers with three to four years of experience, adding $2,500 to their annual salary. Teachers who have five or more years of experience will receive an annual raise of $5,000.
Comparing the actual expenditures of all funds for the 2024-2025 school year, the grand total expenditures of the General Fund, Food Service and Debt Service added up to $140,943,406 with $58,407,150 spent on instruction. An additional $15,990,051 was spent on instructional support. The proposed budget for the 2025-2026 school year adds up to $130,421,124 in estimated expenditures. This estimate includes $55,814,319 spent on instruction with an additional $14,429,116 being spent on instructional support.
Additionally the district held a public hearing to discuss the proposed tax rate for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Looking back the total tax rate decreased each year from 2019 to 2023, with it increasing to 1.0152 in 2024. The proposed tax rate for the 2025-2026 is the same at 1.0152. The district did not recommend approval at the last board meeting since they are still waiting for certified values from the County Appraisal District set for July 25. By law the district must approve a tax rate on or before September 30.
Budget amendments are set to be made in August with more information available at the special board meeting held on August 4 at 6 p.m.
