By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The impact of student absences and overall enrollment on local funding, and how state funds affect the district’s fund balance, have been common themes during administrative presentations to the SBCISD Board of Trustees.
SBCISD Finance Director Vicky Perez has tread cautiously when it comes to finances, and during a public hearing on June 30, she offered a glimpse of the future as she discussed the district’s proposed budget.
The SBCISD administration recommended considering salary increases. Elected leaders listened and offered no pushback, concerns, or questions to Perez during the hearing head at the district’s central headquarters.
Some of the key items being incorporated into the proposed budget include: a preliminary allowance of $2.136 million for a payroll increase, allocated in the current budget; projected enrollment of 8,524 students; and projected Average Daily Attendance (ADA) of 7,300.
Trustees will ultimately decide in September, after the summer public hearings and budget meetings are held.
Board President Orlando Lopez spoke to student-athletes who were honored later during a meeting. Many were accompanied by their parents, and the community was also in attendance.
Lopez said that part of Perez’s presentation focused on student attendance.
“You explained ADA, and when you explained it, that means the kids have to come to school in order for us to get paid,” Lopez said. “You’re going to see a push. I think it’s extremely important for our finances, our school district, and everything else. It’s needed in order for us to continue to provide the resources they need and to remain competitive across the region.”
Pay increases of two to four percent are being considered, some of which are mandated by the state.
According to SBCISD, auxiliary staff and clerical/technical staff would each receive a four percent increase from the midpoint.
Teachers would receive three percent pay increases, in line with the requirements of Texas House Bill 2.
Lastly, administrative and professional staff would receive a two percent increase at the midpoint.
STATE TO PROVIDE LESS FUNDS
Perez said that the trustees were provided with a “budget book” that SBCISD is also posting on its website.
According to SBCISD, the proposed 2026-26 budget shows total revenues of $137,695,122, including child nutrition, the general fund, and the debt service fund.
That is a 2.26 percent change from the previous year.
Last year, SBCISD reported total revenues of $134,612,112.
However, the most notable shortfall is from the amounts of revenue the State of Texas will give to SBCISD — just over $5 million less.
Last year, SBCISD received $101.975 million in state revenues. This year, SBCISD is planning on receiving $96.610 million.
“We posted it online because I wanted to make sure the community had a lot of information about our budget information, the taxpayer impact statement, the calendar we use, the Government Finance Officers Association certificate, and board policy,” Perez said.
“This is a collection of information we’ve used so our budget is just as transparent as possible.”
Perez let trustees know that state funding estimates and special population allotment are based on the Summary of Finance dated June 10, 2026, according to the Texas Education Agency.
The decline in enrollment is not just a San Benito CISD issue but rather a statewide issue, Perez said in past finance meetings.
She added that this budget has been one of the most challenging to produce.