DISD ADMINISTRATION PUTS $1.024 BILLION BUDGET BEFORE BOARD FOR APPROVAL

22 Aug 2002

2002-03 Proposal Marks First Time District Budget Surpassed Billion Dollars

DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District budget officials have proposed a $1.024 billion budget for approval by district trustees at their Thursdayboard meeting, marking the first time the district’s budget has surpassed a billion dollars in revenue.

Highlights in the budget include an increase in salaries of $36 million, including a $1,400 per employee increase for support staff, across the board increases of 4 percent for employees in pay ranges and 2.5 percent for employees who are categorized at the top of the pay scale, as well as a compression of that scale.

Additionally, $2.6 million has been set aside for a supply stipend for teachers and librarians, who will receive an additional $250 in their September paychecks to reimburse them for school supplies they pay for themselves.

"There are many areas in this budget we are proud of, particularly the increase in employee salaries that have made us among the highest paying districts in the state for beginning teachers, and we’ve done it without raising the tax rate," said Larry Groppel, deputy superintendent for Business Services.

Groppel also said the district was able to save in other areas by cutting 60 central office staff positions at a savings of $2.2 million, and by reducing the non-personnel central office budget by $2.5 million."

The district also is proposing an increase of $500 thousand for fine arts, $1 million for advanced placement courses, and $1.5 million for a 401(a) attendance incentive program.

But while the district’s overall budget has increased by nearly $20 million over last year’s adopted budget, district officials are concerned about what the future might hold.

"While we had a total revenue increase of $44 million, the level of revenue we expect to receive from the state will be down $16 million. If this trend continues, along with rising costs in health care and the need to remain competitive with salaries, we’re looking at some challenging times in the future," Groppel said.

In June the board approved a proposal to increase teacher compensation in the district.

"Dr. Moses and the board made the commitment to district staff earlier this year that we were going to do our best to get in line with other school districts when it comes to compensation," Groppel said.

"We feel like we have done a good job in meeting that commitment and desire to do so into the future. With fewer dollars coming into the district over the next couple of years, that’s going to become more and more challenging, but it is something we all feel is very important to the success of this district."

Fiscal Year 2001-02 and 2002-03 Budget Figures