Crosby looks at HB3 funds

CROSBY – At the June 17 meeting of the Crosby ISD Board of Trustees meeting, Lisa Jones gave a report of the 2019-2020 Budget, including how the school district expects that House Bill 3 will effect that budget.

The school is going to hold an open meeting next Monday, June 24, 7:00 p.m., to discuss the budget with any of the public that might make it into the new Administration Building, known as the bus barn or old HEB. The purpose is to adopt the 2019-2020 budget based on the old law. The tax rate will go into effect in September or October. The budget will be amended when the new HB 3 is better understood.

“With a measure of caution and a great deal of thanksgiving and hope, take this report we are giving tonight,” said Superintendent Scott Davis.

HB3 requires increased compensation to full time personnel, such as 75% for teachers, counselors, nurses and librarians, and prioritizing differentiated compensation for classroom teachers with over 5 years of experience. Regarding salaries, Davis said, “The thing I am most excited about is that those that decided to stay with this district are the winners.”

The estimated local property values went up so M&O collections went from $21,590,606 to $23,117,375 in 2019. Extra state aid budget due to growth in 2018-2019 is $1,579,698 and is targeted for fund balance growth. Under the Old Law there were to be no raises for anyone; new positions were to be growth-only based and were to be one secondary math teacher, two elementary bilingual teachers, and one speech language pathologist.

2019 expenses not related to the payroll are a $40,000 demographic study and a TASB Compensation Staffing study for $27,000. A Technology replacement cycle to catch up on new developments. A new Bus Replacement Cycle under a grant from Volkswagon for 2019-2020 and 20-21 of about $358,000 per year. That is 10 buses per year for a 20 bus total. The grant funds about 64% of the total cost. And the van White Fleet will increase about $200,000.

The district staff took information from TASB, TASBO, and Texas Education Agency and methods and calculations are still being developed, so everything is an estimate.

Property values jumped 10.2%. That’s right: your stuff is worth more now that it has been flooded.

In the calculation of Tier 1 State Aid, Crosby ISD will see an increase of $2,930,382. Under the new law, AA Weights SPED FTEs increased to 1.15, so the district is to enjoy an increase of $361,962. Under HB3 they are expecting an increase of $233,539 for career and technology based training. Whereas in the gifted and talented enrollment a decrease of $195,770. Crosby will benefit from the new law’s BA*0.1 Bilingual/ESL ADA $39,675.

In transportation per mile allotment could hurt Crosby a little due to the expanse of the district.

The district is now required to go back to full day Pre-K but should see a $857,318 increase in funds to do so.

Due to growth of about 5.7% from 2017 to 2019 Crosby could increase state aid by $1,437,283.