Austin ISD Faces Budget Deficit through 2013

Austin ISD will have a structural deficit through 2013, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen told trustees Monday night.

“I brought you a structural deficit and a solution,” she said.

In February, trustees rejected Carstarphen’s recommendation that the district declare financial exigency, a move that would allow her “to restructure the administration, reallocate funds, and prepare for long-term budget shortfalls.”

(The American-Statesman has the vote breakdown on financial exigency)

Trustees’ decision to limit Carstarphen’s abilities to trim the budget came up as trustees pondered Monday night whether to give staff a raise for the coming school year.

“We don’t have all the tools we need to resolve that and have a balanced budget,” Carstarphen told trustees.

Tags: Austin ISD, Compensation, Meria Carstarphen, Teachers