Wimberley ISD approves deficit budget and pay increases

WIMBERLEY — A deficit budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year was approved by the Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees on Aug. 21.

WISD’s proposed budget, totaling $44,012,186 in expenditures and $43,399,192 in revenue, is divided into three main funds: general fund at $32,719,885, food service at $993,470 and debt service at $10,298,831. According to budget documents, the recapture payment —  which allows the state of Texas to remove local property tax dollars from public school districts — is set at $4,608,715.

The budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year is considered a deficit, meaning that the expenditure amount exceeds the revenue amount during a defined period. The anticipated net deficit for WISD is $612,994.

Increased operational costs and stagnant state funding levels have made the adoption of deficit budgets common for many Central Texas school districts. The state has not raised the per student allotment — the funding amount public schools in Texas receive per student — since 2019, according to WISD.

“It’s not possible to operate our district in 2023 at 2019 funding levels, while simultaneously paying our staff members competitive salaries,” said WISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Bonewald, adding that he hopes the state legislature will address school funding. “When you add on other legislative requirements that come with little to no additional funding, we find ourselves in the position we are in now: unable to balance our budget.”

“While we would love to be able to adopt a balanced budget, the board is tasked with doing what is right for our district,” WISD Board President Dr. Rob Campbell said. “What’s right for our district is investing in our staff because they are the heart of our district and their dedication should be recognized and rewarded. I believe the board’s action, especially considering the deficit budget we adopted, shows a resounding commitment to retaining our top talent and ensuring the continuation of the high-quality education we provide.”

Pay increases for employees

Recognizing its employees in the district, the WISD Board of Trustees also approved pay increases for all auxiliary and paraprofessionals on July 17. The staff members will receive a 3% increase of their pay grade’s new midpoint or have their pay rate increased to the new, higher minimum rate for their position, whichever is greater for each staff member, according to the district.

That move impacts positions including custodians, bus drivers, aides, secretaries, attendance clerks, child nutrition workers and more. The board’s action raised the minimum salaries for many of the job categories and for some of them, the salaries were raised by as much as 25%.

Bus drivers also received an increased starting pay rate by 8.5% to $19.25 per hour.

Additionally, on Aug. 7, the board approved a 3% salary increase for all teaching and professional positions in the district. According to Wimberley ISD, the pay increase will further solidify the district’s competitiveness in the region.

“In a time of limited resources being allocated to public education in Texas, I am grateful to our board of trustees for aggressively supporting this much needed action,” Dr. Bonewald said.

The full WISD budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year can be accessed at bit.ly/3qTjNrw.