Austin ISD eyes cuts to campus staff as shortfall balloons

• Some school staff are likely to lose their jobs, and the district is eying cuts to art and music programs and 15% cuts to budgets across campuses.

The big picture: Districts across the state — in big cities and fast-growing suburbs including in the Austin area — are facing budget shortfalls, forcing leaders in those communities to close schools and shut down programs.

• Last year, state lawmakers increased teacher pay and per-student funding, but public school advocates warned it wouldn't be enough to make ends meet after years of stagnant state funding and rising costs.
• Meanwhile, driven by Gov. Greg Abbott, lawmakers earmarked $1 billion in taxpayer money for private schools through a newly created voucher program.

Catch up quick: In November, the Austin ISD board committed to shuttering 10 campuses to save money amid expectations of closing the current year with a $16 million deficit. (That projection was later changed to nearly $50 million.)

Follow the money: The projected shortfall for the coming school year "exists because Austin ISD prioritizes essential programs and services that the state does not fund," Segura wrote late Tuesday.

• In a presentation to board members Tuesday, district officials proposed cuts of $5.7 million in special education teacher stipends, $40.9 million to staff positions, $2 million to librarians and $6 million to elementary physical education, art and music programs.
• The district may also try to raise money through sales of school district property and by selling naming rights to school facilities.

Between the lines: Segura said other factors were also at play.

• Austin property values declined more than expected, which has a knock-on effect on how much money the district collects in tax revenue.
• Enrollment has dipped further, which Segura blamed on "the current climate around immigration." (Enrollment dropped from 86,528 students in 2011 to 69,757 in 2025 — and by 3,000 students this school year.)
• Meanwhile, planned sales of some school district properties faced delays.

Friction point: During a budget session Tuesday evening, board president Lynn Boswell warned against making permanent budget cuts in case more state funding materializes or enrollment bounces back up.

• "If we get rid of all our librarians, that will be very hard to get back," Boswell said as an example.

Context: Some schools with well-funded PTAs could opt to fund programs or staff positions, exacerbating equity concerns across the district.

The other side: Axios asked state Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), chair of the House Public Education Committee, whether he thought the state had sufficiently funded public education and if he was available for an interview.

• He did not immediately respond.
• Last year, Buckley touted $8.5 billion in new funding as "the largest investment in public schools in the history of Texas."

Zoom out: Other Austin-area districts have been grappling with budget deficits of their own.

• Leander's could be as high as $13.7 million next year.
• Last year, Eanes ISD's board of trustees voted to close Valley View Elementary School and shutter the district's Spanish immersion program as cost-saving measures.

What we're watching: How much the new school voucher program further cannibalizes enrollment.

What's next: The preliminary Austin ISD budget will be presented on April 23, with a final board vote scheduled for June 18.

• The district is hosting virtual meetings to talk about budget issues on April 25 and on May 9 from 11am-noon. It will host an in-person session at Austin High on April 28 from 6-7pm.

The bottom line: "We must discuss deeper budget reductions than previous years," Segura wrote.