Recapture

A woman stands in an art classroom at an elementary school.

Education

Austin ISD claims victory in tax rate election

Becky Fogel

The 9.1 cent tax rate increase will generate $171 million in new revenue for Austin ISD. The district will keep about $41 million of that, while the rest is subject to Texas’ recapture system.

Education

As voters weigh higher tax rate for Austin public schools, group of former trustees raises concerns

Becky Fogel

If voters approve Prop A, it will generate $171 million in new revenue for the district. Austin ISD will keep $41 million of that, while the rest will go to the state as a result of the recapture system.

Teacher Alessandria Garza is wearing a light brown sweatshirt while sitting in a pink chair at her kitchen table where she is writing in a notebook.

Education

'I wouldn't panic so much': Austin-area educators ask voters to approve tax rate to bump up pay

Becky Fogel

The school boards in Austin ISD and Manor ISD each called tax rate elections for Nov. 5 to help cover the cost of raising staff salaries. Both districts are facing multimillion-dollar budget deficits.

Adults drop off children outside Zilker Elementary School on the first day of classes in Austin ISD on Aug. 15, 2022.

Education

Austin ISD is asking voters to approve a new tax rate to help fund pay raises, reduce deficit

Becky Fogel

District officials said if a voter approval tax rate election is successful in November, it will generate $41 million in additional revenue for the district. Nearly $18 million of that would be used to increase at least 60% of employees’ pay.

A closeup of the Austin ISD Central Office building has a blurry tree branch on the left hand side and more central is the building sign that reads in red letters "Austin" and in smaller black letters it reads "Independent School District."

Education

Austin ISD’s budget deficit means staff pay will barely budge without voter help

Becky Fogel

The size of Austin ISD’s budget deficit and salary increases for staff largely depend on whether the board calls a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election to generate millions in revenue. Without the funds generated by a new tax rate, the district will be $78 million in the hole.

Education

Why do so many Austin-area school districts have budget deficits?

Becky Fogel

Austin ISD is staring down a nearly $60 million budget deficit. District officials and school finance experts say adjusting per student spending for inflation would alleviate some of the financial strain public schools are facing.

Austin ISD's Webb Middle School in 97% economically disadvantaged and nearly 90% Latino. Principal Michael Coyle said electives like band spark students' interest, but it's a struggle to afford a robust fine arts department.

Education

Austin ISD struggles to make ends meet despite property wealth

Camille Phillips

Pretty much everything costs more than it did in 2019. But in Texas, public schools are still getting the same amount of funding they got four years ago.

Students walk under a sign that says Bertha Sadler Means Young Women's Leadership Academy.

Education

Austin ISD school board approves deficit budget as recapture payment nears $1 billion

Becky Fogel

Trustees approved a 2023-2024 budget that spends just over $52 million of the district’s savings to help cover the cost of an aggressive compensation package they unanimously approved last month.

Education

Here's why Pflugerville ISD might close schools — and how the community is fighting back

Becky Fogel

The PfISD school board is considering closing several elementary schools to save money as the district faces a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. Trustees are expected to make a decision next month.

Students wear masks at their desks on the first day of school at Travis High School in Austin.

Education

Austin ISD wants to raise teacher pay by at least 5% for the next school year

Becky Fogel

The district is working on its budget for the 2023-2024 school year. AISD administrators and school board members say employee compensation is the top priority.