[1. Call to Order]
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THE CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER AT 6:00 PM ON AUGUST 21ST, 2025.
BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT STAFF MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE. YOU'RE FREE TO JOIN ME IN STANDING, AS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS LED BY RANDY SCHEKMAN, AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG IS LED BY ILIANA GARZA ROJAS.
WELCOME TO OUR STAFF AND OUR VISITORS. WE ARE HOSTING THIS MEETING. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU'LL SEE IN THE AGENDA TO FOCUS ON BUTTONING UP THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE ARE EXITING AND ENTERING INTO A NEW FISCAL YEAR CELEBRATING OUR STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS.
AS WE DO THIS, AND FOCUSING ALL OF OUR EFFORTS ON STUDENT OUTCOMES AS WE MOVE INTO A NEW FISCAL YEAR, AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT OUR DOLLARS ARE DIRECTED AS TARGETED AS POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVING STUDENT OUTCOMES. AND WITH THAT, WE DEDICATE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS AND RESOURCES TO OUR HIGH GOAL OF EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL. AND WE USE THIS TO GUIDE ALL DELIBERATIONS, DECISIONS AND ACTIONS. YOU WILL GET TO SEE ALL DELIBERATIONS, DECISIONS AND ACTIONS OF THE BOARD IN OPEN SESSION, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME ITEMS WHICH ARE DICTATED BY THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551 AS THE. UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS LAW, AND THEY DEAL WITH PERSONNEL MATTERS, CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY AND REAL ESTATE, AND THEY MAY BE IN CLOSED SESSION FOR THE RECORD. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT ARE ILEANA GARZA ROJAS, MARJORIE BARNES, CAROLYN BENAVIDES, PAUL GILMORE, RANDY SCHEKMAN, AND MYSELF, CASSANDRA HATFIELD. WE CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AND MAY CONDUCT BUSINESS
[2. Public Meeting to Discuss the 2025-2026 Budget and Proposed Tax Rate]
ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT. THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER TWO, OUR PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE 2025 2026 BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE. THE TIME IS NOW 6:02 P.M. AS ESTABLISHED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE, SECTIONS 44.002 THROUGH 44.006. THE PROCESS TO ADOPT THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND TAX RATE FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCLUDES A LAWFULLY POSTED PUBLIC MEETING, DURING WHICH OUR CONSTITUENTS MAY PARTICIPATE. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK WILL BE INVITED TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AND ADDRESS THE BOARD FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION. COMMENTS SHOULD PERTAIN TO THE 2025 2026 BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, AND BE NO LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES. MISS SETTLE WILL BEGIN THE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS FROM OUR AUDIENCE. MISS SETTLE. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HATFIELD, TRUSTEES, AND DOCTOR ELDRIDGE. I WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS TO DISCUSS THE UNIQUE LANDSCAPE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AS ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE ARE ONE OF THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF THIS BOARD. AS YOU MENTIONED, EACH YEAR TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADOPT THEIR BUDGETS AND TAX RATES. UNDER TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTIONS 44.001 THROUGH 44.006 AND TEXAS TAX CODE CHAPTER 26, AND THE RELATED POLICIES WE HOLD HERE LOCALLY UNDER C AND CCG.HOWEVER, THE 89TH LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE INCREASE IN RESIDENT RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 100,000 TO 140,000. UNDER SENATE BILL FOUR AND THE INCREASED ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR AN ADULT WHO IS DISABLED, OR OVER 65 FROM 10,000 TO 60,000. UNDER SENATE BILL 23, THESE PROVISIONS ARE EFFECTIVE FOR THE 2025 SCHOOL YEAR TAX YEAR, CONTINGENT ON THE PASSAGE OF THE AUTHORIZING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. WE'LL SEE ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION BALLOTS OUR OWN DISTRICT TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR, MRS. ANNA BRADY, HAS CALCULATED THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE ASSUMING THE PASSAGE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THIS WOULD BE THE BEST PRACTICES THAT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE EMPLOYING. BESIDES THE IMPACT ON THE LOCAL TAX EFFORT, THE 89TH MADE A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN TEACHER SALARIES OVER $8 BILLION THROUGH AN INCREASE IN IN REVENUE FOR THIS RESTRICTED EXPENDITURE AFTER THE BASIC ALLOTMENT HAD NOT CHANGED FOR SIX YEARS PRIOR. THE DISTRICT HAS NOW AN ADDITIONAL $55 IN THE BASIC ALLOTMENT PER STUDENT TO GENERATE UNRESTRICTED REVENUE. ALL OF THAT SAID, THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER FOR ADOPTION THE THREE BUDGETS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO BE APPROVED BY TRUSTEES AND THE SUPPORTING TAX RATES. THE THREE PROPOSED BUDGETS BEFORE THE BOARD ARE AS FOLLOWS THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND, STUDENT NUTRITION AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.
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RELATED TO THOSE BUDGETS ARE THE TWO SUPPORTING TAX RATES FOR TWO OF THOSE FUNDS, THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING TAX RATE, WHICH SUPPORTS THE GENERAL FUND THAT FINANCIALLY SUPPORTS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. THE OPERATIONS OF EDUCATING THE SCHOLARS OF CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD. THE OTHER TAX RATE IS THE INTEREST IN SINKING, OR OFTEN ABBREVIATED INS, WHICH SUPPORTS THE OBLIGATION OF PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BONDS. SO LET'S GO THROUGH THEM. ALL OF THESE BUDGETS ARE PRESENTED IN THE FORMAT SEEN HERE. THE REQUIRED POSTINGS IN THE NEWSPAPER AND ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE ARE REQUIRED BY STATUTE, AND WE HAVE COMPLIED WITH THAT.WE HAVE ALSO PRINTED THEM FOR YOU IN THE PACKET, BECAUSE IF IT'S A LITTLE TOO DIFFICULT TO READ ON THE SCREEN FOR ACCESSIBILITY PURPOSES, OBVIOUSLY MY EYES ARE A LITTLE GETTING TO THE STAGE WHERE I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO ZOOM IN. THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND HAS A BUDGETED $6 MILLION DEFICIT, AS WE PRESENTED EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND THE OTHER TWO FUNDS ARE PRESENTED WITH BALANCED REVENUES AND EXPENSES, AND THIS ONLINE POSTING IS A REQUIREMENT FROM THE 89TH. WE PUT A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT THIS YEAR IN TRANSPARENCY OF ASSUMPTIONS ALONG THE WAY TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE REVENUE PREDICTION, AS IT IS PRESENTED HERE IN THE LAST MEETING. KEEP IN MIND THAT AS LOCAL TAX EFFORT RISES WITH THE PROPERTY VALUES PROVIDED BY OUR CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS IN DENTON AND DALLAS COUNTIES, THE STATE'S EFFORT IS OFFSET BECAUSE THE PRIMARY FUNDING DRIVER IN THE FORMULA IS STUDENT ATTENDANCE, NOT JUST ENROLLMENT. AND BY CORRELATION, STUDENTS REMAIN OUR MAIN COST CENTER. AS WE PROCEED THROUGH THE YEAR, WE WILL BE LEVERAGING EVERY STRATEGY AVAILABLE TO STRATEGICALLY ALIGN OUR COST CENTERS TO MEET OUR REVENUE DRIVERS WITH A LASER FOCUS ON STUDENT OUTCOMES. AND NOW LET'S DISCUSS SOME EXPENDITURES THE EXPENDITURE BUDGET OR THE GOVERNMENTAL TERM IS ACTUALLY APPROPRIATION IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN OPERATED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. EVERY BUDGET MANAGER COLLABORATED COLLABORATED TO PREPARE THIS BUDGET THAT IS DECREASING OVERALL TO MEET OUR NEW GENERATED REVENUE AS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE ECONOMY OF ALL OUR MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN OUR DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. THE BUDGET IS AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT THAT PROVIDES THE VEHICLE FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT KEEP THE DISTRICT AS A MAJOR EMPLOYER AND SUPPORTER OF LOCAL BUSINESSES. EXPENDITURES HAVE DECREASED OVERALL BY $8 MILLION IN STRATEGIC REDUCTIONS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ISSUING THE REQUIRED HB TWO TEACHER RAISES, INVESTMENT IN OUR AUXILIARY STAFF, AND A 2% OFF MIDPOINT RAISE FOR ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES.
I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO MY PARTNERS AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP THAT REALLY DUG INTO THIS WORK AND CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE IN THE EFFORT TO MATCH OUR EXPENSES WITH OUR REVENUE STRUCTURE. AS IT IS, OUR SINGLE LARGEST INVESTMENT REMAINS INSTRUCTION. IF THERE IS EVER A DOCUMENT THAT DISPLAYS OUR PRIORITIES, IT'S THE ANNUAL BUDGET, AND 60% OF THE EXPENDITURES ARE FOCUSED ON THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT TO EMPOWER SCHOLARS TO ACQUIRE LIFELONG KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND VALUES THAT PREPARE THEM TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD MARKETPLACE WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THAT MISSION NEEDS SUPPORT IN THE WAY OF INSTRUCTIONAL AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, COUNSELING AND HEALTH SERVICES, AND TO PROVIDE THE CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION WE PROVIDE OUR SCHOLARS OTHER CATEGORIES LIKE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND A NECESSITY TO OPERATE A DISTRICT OF THIS SIDE OF THE SIZE. BUT LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANTED TO COVER A LITTLE BIT IN DETAIL THE FUNCTION CODE 91. IN THE OTHER CATEGORY, THE ONLY CONTRACTED SERVICE TIED TO THIS CODE IS THE FUNCTION OF THE FUNDING FORMULA WE CALL RECAPTURE OR ROBINHOOD. THIS CAN CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY THROUGH THE YEAR BASED ON THE REFINED AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE. CALCULATION THAT WILL BE REPORTED NEXT SUMMER. DURING OUR SUBMISSION, THE STATE CAME UP WITH THIS TERM TO DEFINE THE AGREEMENT THAT THE STATUTE DICTATES THAT THE DISTRICT REMIT LOCAL DOLLARS TO BE REDISTRIBUTED TO OTHER DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WHEN LOCAL TAX EFFORT SPILLS OVER THE GLASS. AS I'VE DEMONSTRATED BEFORE. ONTO THE DEBT SERVICE, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS USED TO PAY PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE DEBT INCURRED THROUGH THE SALE OF BONDS. THE PROCEEDS FROM BONDS ARE USED TO FINANCE LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING FACILITIES, LIKE THE 19 CAMPUSES THAT WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER, AND THE REVENUE FOR THIS FUND IS GENERATED FROM THE INTEREST IN SINKING PORTION OF THE OVERALL TAX RATE THAT REMAINS ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE AREA, AT $0.20 PER $100 OF PROPERTY
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VALUE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE INNS TAX RATE CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE GENERAL FUND. AND FINALLY, THE STUDENT NUTRITION FUND CONTINUES THEIR OPERATIONS WITH A PROJECTED BALANCED BUDGET. DESPITE THE RISING COST OF FOOD AND SALARIES. WANT TO RECOGNIZE KRISTEN HESS FOR THE AMAZING JOB SHE SHE DOES, AND TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY DURING CONSOLIDATION TO OPTIMIZE HER OPERATIONS WITH THE CLOSING OF FOUR KITCHENS. SHE REALLY DOES A FANTASTIC JOB AT MANAGING THIS FUND. LAST YEAR, SHE AND HER TEAM SERVED OVER 1 MILLION BREAKFASTS AND 2.7 MILLION LUNCHES. SHE'S OFTEN QUOTED AS SAYING THEY OPERATE THE LARGEST CHAIN RESTAURANT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND A LITTLE A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LEGAL OBLIGATION TO ADOPT A TAX RATE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR TAXPAYERS AND THE PUBLIC ALIKE TO SEE THE DECLINE OF THE TAX RATE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SINCE 2019, TAX COMPRESSION HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC IN AUSTIN, AND THE STATE EFFECTIVELY REALLY SETS OUR TAX RATE. THE GRAY PORTION OF THIS BAR GRAPH TO ENSURE THAT MAXIMUM COMPRESSION, THE RED PORTION OF THIS TAX RATE IS WHAT THE BOARD SETS BASED ON THE COMMUNITY'S APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZED BONDS.AND AGAIN, WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST IN NORTH TEXAS. AND WITH THAT, IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT THE 2526 BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE AS PRESENTED. AND I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD. THANK YOU, MISS SUTTLE. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE FROM THE AUDIENCE. SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING? OKAY, SEEING NONE AND HEARING NONE, I WILL. AT 6:12 P.M. I'LL CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC MEETING AND THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, MISS SETTLE. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT AND FROM DISTRICT EMPLOYEES. PERSONS WHO WISH TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD MUST HAVE COMPLETED AN ONLINE FORM FOR THIS PURPOSE AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BY THE POSTED DEADLINE OF 1 P.M. AS OF 1 P.M. TODAY, THERE WERE NO ONE WHO
[4. Consent Agenda]
REQUESTED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD THIS EVENING, SO WE'LL PROCEED. ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A MECHANISM THAT THE BOARD USES TO APPROVE A ROUTINE NUMBER OF ITEMS TOGETHER IN A SINGLE VOTE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. THE BOARD'S PUBLIC NOTICE. THE PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING INCLUDES A LIST OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN PROVIDED AMPLE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ITEMS IN ADVANCE. PRIOR TO ANY ACTION TAKEN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BOARD MEMBERS MAY REQUEST WITHDRAWAL OF INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FOR CLARIFICATION OR DISCUSSION.BOARD MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE AND HEARING NONE. BOARD MEMBERS DO HAVE A MOTION REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. BARNES TO HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND FOR MR. SHACKMAN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED BY A VOTE OF SIX IN FAVOR? ZERO OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM
[5. Items for Discussion and/or Action]
IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION. BECAUSE WE DID NOT REMOVE ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE'LL SKIP FIVE A AND MOVE TO FIVE B. AND FIVE B IS CONSIDERED APPROVED. THE 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET AND MISS SETTLE PRESENTED THE THE PUBLIC MEETING. BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THAT? NO. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS SETTLE? I DO HAVE A QUESTION. COULD WE LOOK AT FUNCTION 41? JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS INCREASED EXPENDITURES IN FUNCTION 41. AND YOU KNOW, THE TITLE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION CAN SOUND MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN HOW GENERAL ADMINISTRATION CONNECTS TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND WHY THAT BUDGET INCREASED. SO WHEN I ARRIVED LAST SEPTEMBER, WE HAD NOTED THAT THERE WAS SOME CODING ERRORS IN THE ORIGINAL ADOPTED BUDGET FROM 2425. THEY WERE RELATED MOSTLY WITH TRS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE ARE ARE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE SALARIES THAT THEY ARE ORIGINALLY CODED TO, AS WELL AS AS SOME SOME SUPPORT SALARIES THAT ACTUALLY BELONG IN THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION CODE. WE FOLLOW SOMETHING CALLED THE WELL, YOU[00:15:04]
KNOW, ALL THE ACRONYMS. IT'S IT'S CALLED THE FINANCIAL. A FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING RESOURCE GUIDE. THERE WE GO. I BLINKED THERE AND IT DEFINES WHAT EACH OF THOSE CODES AND THE TYPES OF SALARIES THAT BELONG THERE. SO YOU'LL NOTE THAT IN YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT THAT WAS THAT AMENDMENT OR THE TRANSFER BETWEEN THE CODES WAS, WAS DONE PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENT BEFORE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, THE TYPES OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES. WELL, ME, I'M A GENERAL ADMINISTRATION EXPENSE. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST THE MY TEAM HR. AND IT HAS A VERY PRESCRIBED. THERE'S ALSO AN ORG CODE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT. AND THERE'S IT'S VERY PRESCRIPTIVE. HAVING JUST TAKEN THE FINANCE CLASS AND MY ED, YOU ARE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE OF FUNCTION CODES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT NUMBERS. SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IT IS SEEN AND NOTED, BUT THAT THERE WERE SOME CODING THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. RIGHT. AND THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO PRESENT, ADOPTED, TO ADOPTED RATHER THAN AMENDED TO ADOPTED. GREAT. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2025 2026 BUDGET? OKAY. THIS ITEM IS MARKED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. DOES THE BOARD WISH TO TAKE ANY ACTION? MISS GARZA ROJAS IS IT FIVE? IT IS FIVE B YES. I MOVE TO APPROVE FIVE B DO I NEED TO READ ANY LANGUAGE ON THIS? YOU CAN JUST SAY THE CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE 2025 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. DO I HAVE A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED? TYLER. THE FIVE IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED. IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING I ALSO WANT TO ADD. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS SAT DOWN TO LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET AND TO REALLY STREAMLINE ANYTHING THAT WASN'T NECESSARY OR THAT WE COULD DO OTHER THINGS WITH. AND I THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR PROFESSIONALS AND ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS SPENT REALLY CLEAN LINING THEIR BUDGETS, TO ME IS A HUGE JUST THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO I KNOW CARLA SPENT TIME WITH THEM. AND IT'S NOT EASY BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE USED TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT. BUT THEN I THINK THAT THEY REALIZE, LIKE, WE'RE ONE TEAM AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BALANCING OUR BUDGET AND WE'RE NOT DOING ANY UNNECESSARY EXPENSES. SO I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW HOW MUCH TIME EVERYONE HAS SPENT AND WHAT OUR GOAL IS. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THANK OUR PEOPLE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR ALDRIDGE AND I AGREE. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO WATCH THE LAST BOARD MEETING, BECAUSE IN THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WE WENT IN DETAIL OVER THE PROJECTED BUDGET AND THE PLAN TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR SPENDING AND REALLY LOOKED AT SOME COMPARISON GRAPHS. SO FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU ARE WONDERING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK TO OUR LAST BOARD MEETING AND LISTEN TO THE BUDGET UPDATE, BECAUSE YOU WILL FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT HELPED THE BOARD BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE WORK TODAY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND REALLY ANTICIPATE TARGETING EXPENSES TOWARDS STUDENT OUTCOMES, OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS FIVE C CONSIDER AND APPROVE A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE RELEASE OF COMMITMENT OF FUND BALANCE RELATED TO RESERVES AND THE STATE REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND. MISS SETTLE, IT'S YOU AGAIN. IT'S YOUR NIGHT. YES. WE REVIEWED THIS AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT THE BOARD'S PREVIOUSLY HAD SET ASIDE FUNDS WHEN THERE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATION IN THE FUNDING FORMULA, AND SIMILAR TO WHAT THE DISTRICT EXPERIENCED IN THE 25 SCHOOL YEAR. SO THIS RESOLUTION WOULD RELEASE THAT COMMITTED FUND BALANCE TO ALLOW US TO OFFSET THAT REVENUE FLUCTUATION. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS SETTLE? OKAY. AND THIS ITEM DOES HAVE A RESOLUTION ATTACHED, MR. SHACKMAN, I WOULD MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPT A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE RELEASE OF COMMITTED FUND BALANCE. AS PRESIDENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND FROM MR. GILMORE. IT TOOK ME A SECOND FOR MISS.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED BY A VOTE OF SIX IN FAVOR? ZERO OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM IS FIVE
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D. CONSIDER AND APPROVE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025, INCLUDING A RESOLUTION SETTING SAID TAX RATE. AGAIN, MISS SETTLE AGAIN. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEYOND THE PRESENTATION, JUST THAT THESE THESE RESOLUTIONS AND THE THE ACTION COMPLIES WITH ALL THE STATUTES. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS. AGAIN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT HAVE TO BE READ ALOUD, BUT DOES. DOES ANYONE WISH TO MAKE A MOTION? CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, YOU CAN ASK A QUESTION. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION TO THE PUBLIC.BASED ON THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE UP HERE, IT'S A TAX DECREASE OF 0.9481 $0.00, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A DECREASE OF 3.069% AND THE TAX RATE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. YES, MA'AM. DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON US IN THE FUTURE? WELL, WE ARE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO ADOPT THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE. SO WHAT I LOVE EXTRA PENNIES TO GENERATE UNRESTRICTED REVENUE. ABSOLUTELY. BUT THAT'S NOT ALLOWED UNDER OUR CURRENT FUNDING FORMULA. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO NOTE FOR TAXPAYERS WHEN WE HEAR FROM THEM, WHY DIDN'T MY PROPERTY TAX BILL GO DOWN? WELL, THAT'S USUALLY A RESULT OF THE VALUES THAT ARE SET BY THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, AND THAT IS NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DISTRICT. HOWEVER, I THINK IN THIS YEAR WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASE PLUS THE DISTRICT REDUCING THE TAX RATE, IT SHOULD BE A BETTER YEAR THAN MOST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, MISS BARNES. I MOVE I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE DECREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.94810, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A DECREASE OF 3.069% IN THE TAX RATE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WITH SAID TAX RATE CONSISTING OF A TAX RATE OF 0.74810 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND 0.20000 FOR DEBT SERVICE. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION FOR MISS BARNES TO HAVE A SECOND. HAVE A SECOND FOR MISS GARZA ROJAS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. THOSE OPPOSED BY A VOTE OF SIX IN FAVOR? ZERO OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS SETTLE, YOU CAN BEGIN ON
[6. Comments from the Board Members Regarding Posted Agenda Items]
THE NEW YEAR. READY FOR THE NEXT ONE? READY FOR THE NEXT ONE. ALL RIGHT, SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS ON THE POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE POSTED AGENDA? MR. SHACKMAN? JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A MULTIYEAR PROCESS TO BRING US INTO COMPLIANCE AND UPDATE AND STREAMLINE OUR FINANCIAL PROCEDURES AND CODING AND ALL OF THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR GUIDING AND HELPING TO LEAD US IN THAT EFFORT. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE REACHED THIS POINT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA AND* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.