How can Keller ISD adopt a surplus budget of $6 million when so many jobs have been cut and administrators say they can’t afford free transportation?
“Surplus” may not be exactly accurate. In a 2-year budget cycle, the first year’s $4.1 million in unencumbered funds becomes the second year’s $10.5 million deficit.
When Keller ISD began to craft its budget for the 2011-12 school year, the Texas State Legislature was in its biennial session and nothing was final until the end of June. After that, the District received word that the state would release federal EduJobs funding and KISD’s share would be $4.8 million for 2011-12, knowing those funds would be going away the following year.
Without those one-year funds, the District’s unencumbered, year-ending funds would have been -$700,000. The District is also expecting to lose an additional $3-4 million in state funding for 2012-13, meaning if all things stay the same, this year’s unencumbered funds actually become at least a $-10.5 million deficit.
While these numbers remain somewhat fluid, Keller ISD continues to be fiscally conservative with the community’s resources.