3% pay increase proposed
Dripping Springs — Budget has been a recent topic of discussion for Dripping Springs ISD.
On Jan. 23, the DSISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2023-24 assumptions and parameters, which include a proposed 3% pay increase. But the vote was not left without discussion.
“These assumptions are our beginning point for putting a budget together to make sure we know how to embark on this budget process, so this starts the race to [the] June finish line,” said Elaine Cogburn, deputy superintendent for finance and operations.
Other key assumptions for the budget include student enrollment of 8,854, an average daily attendance rate of 95.69% (five-year average), a property value growth estimate of 11%, 33 new full-time employees and a budget parameter of 2% (level of deficit approval based on board policy).
At the Jan. 17 agenda review meeting, the original proposal was a 2% pay increase, but then it jumped to 4% the following week. Trustees were hesitant to approve the larger number.
“I’m surprised to see it jump this early in the process from 2% to 4%,” said trustee Barbara Stroud. “Our staff is amazing and they are underpaid for what they do. It is always my goal to pay them as much as we can but it just seems early in the process.”
To have a level playing field, DSISD has looked at what neighboring districts are doing.
Hays CISD approved a 7% cost-of-living adjustment for employees last year and Austin ISD gave a 2% pay raise to its employees. This year, Austin ISD is looking at raising pay by 5% in the 2023-24 budget, according to Cogburn.
“It’s not really a lot about what we are doing, it’s about what our neighbors are doing. I don’t know that this board is going to sit here and stick with a 3% [raise] when all of our neighbors are doing north of that,” Cogburn said.
The assumptions and parameters are a starting point for building the budget and they could change. The 2023-24 budget is slated to be adopted in June.
