YISD trustee raises concerns over projected deficit, $57.6M in urgent repairs

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Ysleta ISD trustees are seeking answers after district staff outlined more than $57 million in urgent repair needs during a board meeting last week, as the district also projects a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

Trustee Chris Hernandez said what stood out most to him at the meeting was what he described as the seriousness of the district’s financial situation. He said he is concerned that without major changes, the district could burn through its fund balance by next year.

“If our expenditures continue to run the same, it was very likely we will see insolvency, which is the equivalency of bankruptcy for a school district,” Hernandez said.

District leaders said Ysleta ISD is projecting a $16.7 million deficit by June 30, the end of this fiscal year. Trustees were also told the district has $57.6 million in urgent repair needs.

Jordan Salas reports on YISD trustee raises concerns over projected deficit, $57.6M in urgent repairs (Credit: KFOX14)

The largest portion of the repair costs is tied to HVAC and refrigerated air issues at multiple campuses, totaling about $25.7 million. The district also cited $12.5 million needed for 74 aging buses. Other needs include turf, track, roof and playground repairs.

Hernandez said he learned about some of the issues at the same time as the public during the board meeting.

“I found out right at that board meeting that the Ysleta high school football field was going to be unusable, that their air conditioning went out and we’re renting units right now to remedy the situation. And you hear over $50 million of deferred operations… how are we going to address this? I don’t know,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he does not know exactly why some repairs were deferred for so long, but believes it comes down to money.

“I can only assume the liquidity wasn’t there. We didn’t have the cash on hand, I have to assume. It’s the only thing that makes sense,” he said.

Hernandez said the board has not yet received official budget recommendations, and no official recommendation for campus consolidation has been made. However, he said that based on the numbers, campus consolidation could be part of the conversation moving forward.

“The only thing I can think where these conversations are leading to is campus consolidation. If that’s the case, the community needs to know immediately. There needs to be discussion with the community and they need to be involved,” Hernandez said.

District staff are expected to bring trustees budget recommendations in June. It is not yet clear what those recommendations will include, but Hernandez said he will not support any plan that keeps the district running a deficit.

“We can’t run a deficit. It’s that simple. It’s the only way we’re going to replenish our unassigned fund balance… We’re going to have to make some tough decisions to make that happen,” he said.

Ysleta ISD has until June 30 to approve next year’s budget. Hernandez said the community deserves to know what is happening so residents are not blindsided by worst-case scenarios.

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