After approving job cuts earlier this month, the El Paso Independent School District turned to adopting its 2026-27 operating budget amid financial exigency.
The board unanimously approved the 2026-27 budget during its regular session on Tuesday, June 16, at the district headquarters. The plan includes about $518.6 million in revenue and $523 million in spending, creating a shortfall of roughly $4.3 million.
The board was given three options with different levels of cost savings. Although the third option included deeper cuts, it was approved during a special session on Monday, June 15. Under that plan, the number of contract jobs slated for elimination was reduced from 94 to 55.
“I want to thank the trustees for their work on the budget, and it’s been very challenging for our team members,” EPISD Superintendent Brian Lusk said. “This budget tells us where we were and where we are going. It shows the progress we’ve made over the last month and a half. All that is an effort to balance the budget for (EPISD).”
The exigency measures considered in the budget leave the district with about 38 days of fund balance after expenses. Even with the approved operating budget, district officials said it is still expected to enter financial exigency by October.
Deputy Superintendent David Bates, who presented to the board at the meeting, said that the district’s tax rate has dropped from 1.0700 in 2016-17 to 0.7699 in 2025-26.
Bates again noted that the district would present a public dashboard in August to help the public track EPISD’s finances.
“State funding has really underscored the importance of enrollment in our schools,” EPISD Board of Trustees Vice President Jack Loveridge said. “We’re so far away from Austin, but we’re seeing the same thing across Texas. It’s good to understand that $21 million has evaporated through no fault of EPISD and solely from decisions in Austin.”
How will EPISD fill vacancies in District 6 and 7?
The board also unanimously decided during the Tuesday, June 16, meeting to fill the open seats in Districts 6 and 7 by appointment following the resignations of Daniel Call and Valerie Beals. In a unanimous vote, the board also accepted the resignations of Call and Beals.
“There was an application, a resume, a statement and a background check,” Loveridge said. “There was also a forum where three of us wishing to be appointed were asked questions. It was very comprehensive, and all of us came before the board; it was a very professional process. There was never any pandering to the board.”
Loveridge was appointed to the board for District 3 on April 11, 2024.
An ad hoc committee to review qualified candidates was created by District 2 trustees Alex Cuellar and Loveridge.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: EPISD passes budget with $4.3 million shortfall in unanimous vote
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
