Trustees Approve $104 Million Budget, Tax Rate Remains the Same

Trustees adopted the Los Fresnos CISD budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, and also approved setting the same tax rate as last year.
Chief Financial Officer David Young presented the board with the proposed $104.2 million budget. Young said the total, which is $2 million less than the amended 2012-13 budget, could increase slightly with amendments.

“We wanted to stay competitive in salaries for our teachers, and this ensures that we will have the best qualified teachers for our students for years to come,” Superintendent Gonzalo Salazar said.

Salary increases were also included in the budget across the board for employees who worked at least 90 days in the 2012-13 school year – including manual trades employees, paraprofessionals, teachers and administrators. The raises were five percent of midpoint for each level.

“Los Fresnos CISD continues to be recognized as a leader in student achievement and is often held up as a model in the area of finance,” Salazar told the board. “The leadership you have provided over the years has resulted in the adoption of balanced budgets, a tax ratification election that has yielded the funds we need for the expansion of the ninth grade campus.”

Los Fresnos United is scheduled to expand to include a sophomore class by Fall 2015. “We’re also working within our means to make improvements in facilities throughout the district,” Salazar said.

At the start of the meeting, trustees held a public hearing to discuss the budget and tax rate that was to be adopted. Board members previously approved a proposal for a tax rate of $1.17 per $100 valuation for Maintenance and Operations, plus .02 for the Interest and Sinking Fund. The total tax rate of $1.19 per $100 valuation total is the same tax rate set since 2011. For five years prior to that, the tax rate was $1.20 per $100 valuation.

“This hearing fulfills a legal requirement of providing our community with an opportunity to share comments and feedback on this topic.”

Later in the meeting, trustees approved setting the tax rate.

Salazar also thanked the board publicly for its support.

“The stability we have had on the board and that you have provided should be credited with the healthy position of our district,” Salazar said. “You continuously stress the fiduciary responsibility that we have to our community and have kept our focus on student achievement.”

2013-14 Budget Expenditures by Object Code

• Personnel: $68,836,293
• Contracted services: $6,910,269
• Supplies and materials: $8,956,826
• Miscellaneous: $2,889,307
• Debt service: $4,917,207
• Capital outlay: $9,728,059
• Other uses: $1,994,576
• Total: $104,232,537

Construction Projects Proposed in 2013-14 Budget
Projects under way:

• Los Fresnos United: Band Hall, Locker Room, Chiller Upgrade, Parking

Projects budgeted for 2013-14:

• Los Cuates Middle School: Roof Replacement

Projects in planning stages for 2013-14, but not in budget:

• Texas Safe Shelter Initiative/Gym and Classroom Expansion
• Los Fresnos High School: Welding Shop Expansion
• Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium: Field House/Weight Room/Practice Pool
• Liberty Memorial Middle School: Tennis courts