Magnolia ISD is preparing for a severe budget shortfall in 2012-13 if the proposed budget from the Texas Legislature is adopted.

“The Texas Legislature is currently in session and working on building a state budget for the next biennium,” Superintendent Todd Stephens wrote in a letter to the community. “The Legislature is facing a huge funding shortfall, mainly resulting from a poor economy and the reduction of local property taxes in 2006. Most estimates put this shortfall around $26 billion, and that would be if the state services were kept at their current funding level.”

According to Stephens, through this proposed budget assessment the Texas Legislature is facing a $9.8 billion short fall in public education funding for the 2012-13 biennium.

Stephens stated that MISD is facing a 15 percent reduction in its budget. The proposed budget would affect MISD by reducing its funds $12 million each year.

Stephens said that MISD has implemented cost-efficient methods since a budget freeze and reduced property taxes that school districts have been operating on since 2006.

“MISD and all other school districts in Texas have been operating on the same per-student funding level since 2006 with no adjustments for inflation or increases in fuel, electricity, commodities and some state-mandated employee raises,” Stephens wrote.

According to Stephens, 80 percent of the current budget is allocated for payroll and employees and 20 percent is utilized for items such as athletics, fine arts and educational programs.

Stephens stated that cuts and cost-efficient plans have already affected the district expenditures in anticipation for the coming shortfall.

“We will look for additional creative reductions in these non-payroll expenditures, but since the budget freeze in 2006, we have been very efficient and lean on this side of the budget,” Stephens wrote. “So the majority of any significant reductions would have to come from personnel.”

MISD currently operates with 955 professional staff and 726 paraprofessional staff. If the proposed budget were to pass, MISD would lose 240 professionals, or 480 paraprofessionals, or a combination of both.

Stephens said that if cuts in staff are made, classroom performance will be affected.

He also stated that school activities such as athletics, fine arts and educational programs are not “off of the table” and will still have to be considered for cuts if the budget changes.

Another option Stephens suggested was holding an election to raise property taxes. Currently the property taxes are at $1.04 per $100 of valuation and they could go to $1.13, according to Stephens. He said it would be up to the voters.

While this is only a proposed budget, Stephens said it shows what type of mindset the Texas Legislature has. He hopes it will change.

“We’re going to have to be prepared for the worst case scenario,” he said.

For more information about MISD, visit magnoliaisd.org.

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