HISD unveils 2012-13 budget proposal

The HISD Board of Education was presented with a 2012-2013 budget proposal April 19 that addresses a $53.2 million deficit while maintaining the current property tax rate and per-student funding levels.

The proposal, which requires school board approval, calls for a $16.5 million employee compensation package that would help HISD keep pace with a growing number of Texas school districts that have already announced plans to approve pay raises.

HISD salaries were frozen this school year, and only a portion of teachers received state-mandated pay raises in 2010-2011.

A detailed proposal for distributing the proposed pay raises will be presented to the board in May. The district’s deficit would be covered in part with a $17 million reduction in the amount of general fund money that is normally transferred to HISD’s debt service fund to help repay loans. This reduction is a one-time option that will not be available in future years. In addition, $8 million would be transferred from the district’s $257 million general fund balance.

The Board of Education is set to discuss the proposed budget in several upcoming public meetings before adopting a budget in June.