As Texas school public school districts approach the fiscal year deadline for budget approval, many are adopting deficits heading into the 2026–2027 school year.
Statewide, districts have reported ongoing financial struggles, citing factors such as a lack of state funding, inflation, declining enrollment, lower birth rates, and falling property values as reasons for their growing deficits.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$@>6 5:DEC:4ED 92G6 >256 4FED 😕 @C56C E@ 2G@:5 2 AC@;64E65 567:4:E[ DF49 2D pFDE:? x?56A6?56?E $49@@= s:DEC:4E Wx$sX] x? pAC:=[ E96 5:DEC:4E AC@;64E65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?]?6HD^:DDF6D^65F42E:@?^2FDE:?\:D5\AC@;64ED\`g`\>:==:@?\3F586E\567:4:E\7@C\a_ae\a_af\D49@@=\J62C^2CE:4=60e42ag762\26gd\ce3_\3b_e\aefbb2cf453g]9E>=QmS`g` >:==:@?k^2m 567:4:E[ 2?5[ 27E6C >@?E9D @7 3@2C5 56=:36C2E:@?[ pFDE:? x$s k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2FDE:?:D5]@C8^2??@F?46>6?ED^a_ae^_e^`g^3@2C5\ECFDE66D\2AAC@G6\ggf\>:==:@?\3F586E\a_ae\af\D49@@=\J62C\AC6D6CG6Qm2AAC@G65k^2m 2? Sggf >:==:@? 3F586E 😕 yF?6 H:E9 Sa_d >:==:@? 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2FDE:?:D5]@C8^2??@F?46>6?ED^a_ae^_e^ab^DFA6C:?E6?56?ED\FA52E6\2AAC@G65\a_ae\af\3F586E\6?\6DA2?@=Qm255:E:@?2= 4FEDk^2m]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9@D6 4FED :?4=F56 46?EC2= @77:46 A2J 564C62D6D[ 5:DEC:4EH:56 DE:A6?5 25;FDE>6?ED[ 2?5 A2CE?6C\AC@G:565 DEF56?E DFAA@CE D6CG:46D] (9:=6 42>AFD6D H:== C6E2:? =:3C2C:2?D 2?5 4@F?D6=@CD[ D@>6 D>2==6C 42>AFD6D >2J 92G6 A2CE\E:>6 2DD:DE2?E AC:?4:A2=D[ 2?5 D64@?5 E9C@F89 7:7E9 8C256 4=2DD6D 4=2DD D:K6D H:== :?4C62D6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“pFDE:? x$s 😀 ?@E 2=@?6 😕 E9:D DECF88=6] $49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 24C@DD %6I2D 2C6 766=:?8 E96 D6G6C6 DEC2:? @7 F?56C7F?565 567:4:E 3F586ED[” $FA6C:?E6?56?E |2E:2D $68FC2 HC@E6 😕 2 yF?6 ab =6EE6C E@ A2C6?ED] “pD E96 =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? 2AAC@2496D 😕 y2?F2CJ a_af[ H6 2C6 7F==J 4@>>:EE65 E@ DE6AA:?8 FA[ C2:D:?8 @FC G@:46D 2?5 7:6C46=J 25G@42E:?8 7@C E96 DE2E6 7F?5:?8 @FC DEF56?ED 2?5 DE277 56D6CG6]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp>@?8 %6I2D’ `_ =2C86DE D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED[ 2 >2;@C:EJ 92G6 2AAC@G65 @C 2C6 AC@;64E:?8 567:4:E 3F586ED[ H:E9 E96 =2C86DE CF??:?8 FAH2C5D @7 S`__ >:==:@?] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw@FDE@? x$s[ E96 DE2E6’D =2C86DE 5:DEC:4E H:E9 ?62C=J `eh[___ DEF56?ED 6?C@==65 😕 E96 a_ad–a_ae D49@@= J62C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9@FDE@?49C@?:4=6]4@>^?6HD^9@FDE@?\E6I2D^65F42E:@?^9:D5^2CE:4=6^3F586E\a_ae\a_af\aab`fccb]A9AQm2AAC@G65k^2m 2 Sa 3:==:@? 3F586E H:E9 2? 6IA64E65 Sac]e >:==:@? 567:4:E 😕 :ED 86?6C2= 7F?5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms2==2D 2?5 rJAC6DD\u2:C32?:==:@? AC@;64E65 567:4:E[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]47:D5]?6E^47:D5\?6HD\56E2:=D^O3@2C5^a_ad\a_ae\47:D5\5:DEC:4E\?6HD^A@DE^47:D5\3@2C5\@7\ECFDE66D\25@AED\a_ae\af\3F586EQmrJAC6DD\u2:C32?:==:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrJAC6DD\u2:C32?=QmSg]d 3:==:@?k^2m DE2E6 :?G6DE>6?E 7C@> E96 ghE9 {68:D=2E:G6 $6DD:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^42A:E@=]E6I2D]8@G^E=@5@4D^gh#^3:==E6IE^A57^wq____au]A57Qmw@FD6 q:== ak^2m] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%9:D 3F586E 6?DFC6D @FC 92C5\H@C<:?8 DE277 C646:G6 2 8F2C2?E665 @?6\E:>6 Sd__ DE:A6?5[” z:==:2? D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E 2 A@E6?E:2= }@G6>36C ‘@E6C\pAAC@G2= %2I #2E6 t=64E:@? W’p%#tX 4@F=5 2==@H E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@ “E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 A2E9 7@CH2C5 7@C 255:E:@?2= DE277 C6E6?E:@? :?46?E:G6D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms2==2D x$s =:DE65 C65F465 DE2E6 C6G6?F6[ 564=:?:?8 DEF56?E 6?C@==>6?E[ 2?5 “C:D:?8 C642AEFC6 A2J>6?ED E@ E96 $E2E6 @7 %6I2D” 2D C62D@?D 7@C :ED AC@;64E65 567:4:E] %9C@F89 E96 DE2E6’D “#@3:? w@@5” C642AEFC6 DJDE6>[ AC@A6CEJ\H62=E9J D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 92G6 D@>6 @7 E96:C 7F?5D EC2?D76CC65 3J E96 DE2E6 E@ AC@A6CEJ\A@@C 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“s2==2D x$s 😀 AC@;64E65 E@ D6?5 Sfb >:==:@? 324< E@ E96 DE2E6 ?6IE J62C E9C@F89 E96 C642AEFC6 DJDE6>[ 4@>A2C65 E@ Se_ >:==:@? E9:D J62C[” E96 5:DEC:4E DE2E65 @? :ED H63D:E6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm}@CE9D:56 x$s 😀 D6E E@ 2AAC@G6 :ED S`]_e 3:==:@? 3F586E 😕 pF8FDE H:E9 2 AC@;64E65 Sb`]e >:==:@? 567:4:E 7@C E96 a_ae–a_af D49@@= J62C] p ‘p%#t @? E96 }@G6>36C 32==@E H@F=5 86?6C2E6 255:E:@?2= E2I C6G6?F6[ C65F4:?8 E92E 567:4:E E@ Sa_ >:==:@? :7 2AAC@G65]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq6EH66? a_ad 2?5 a_af[ }@CE9D:56 x$s 😀 @? EC24< E@ 5C2H 5@H? ?62C=J Sf_]c >:==:@? 7C@> :ED C6D6CG6 7F?5 H:E9@FE 2 ‘p%#t[ 3FE @?=J 23@FE Sbg]g >:==:@? H:E9 @?6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 5:DEC:4E 😀 4FCC6?E=J F?56C8@:?8 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:D5]?6E^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^2EE249>6?ED^3A0?:D502EE249>6?ED^a_ae^5:DEC:4E\@AE:>:K2E:@?0:?EC@\AC6D6?E2E:@?0;2?\a_ae]A57Qm5:DEC:4E @AE:>:K2E:@?k^2m” E@ “36EE6C FE:=:K6 @FC C6D@FC46D 2?5 :>AC@G6 @FE4@>6D 7@C DEF56?ED[ E62496CD[ 72>:=:6D[ 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]” %9:D AC@46DD 4@F=5 =625 E@ A@DD:3=6 D49@@= 4=@DFC6D[ H9:49 }@CE9D:56 x$s 244C65:ED E@ 724E@CD E92E :?4=F56 D9:7ED 😕 D49@@=\286 A@AF=2E:@? 2?5 DEF56?E C6D:56?46[ :?4C62D65 D49@@= 49@:46 @AE:@?D[ 2?5 76H6C 9@>6 DE2CED 2?5 2??F2= 4=@D:?8D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“}@CE9D:56 x$s 7246D >2?J @7 E96 D2>6 6?C@==>6?E 492==6?86D 2D 5:DEC:4ED 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[” E96 5:DEC:4E D2:5[ ?@E:?8 E92E :E 92D =@DE g[f__ DEF56?ED D:?46 u2== a_`f[ H9:=6 “492CE6C 6?C@==>6?E 92D 2=>@DE BF25CFA=65]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? pAC:=[ E96 %6I2D pDD@4:2E:@? @7 $49@@= qFD:?6DD ~77:4:2=D W%p$q~X k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E2D3@]@C8^FA=@25D^7:=6D^86?6C2=^!@=:4J\2?5\#6D62C49^a_ae]_c]`f0%9:C5\%p$q~\$49@@=\u:?2?46\$FCG6J]A57Qmu:?2?46 $FCG6Jk^2m 82E96C65 aeb C6DA@?D6D 7C@> acc AF3=:4 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED C6AC6D6?E:?8 ce A6C46?E @7 E96 DE2E6’D DEF56?ED] !2CE:4:A2E:?8 5:DEC:4ED H6C6 DA=:E C@F89=J 6G6?=J 24C@DD E9C66 6?C@==>6?E 42E68@C:6Di 76H6C E92? `[d__ DEF56?ED[ `[d__ E@ d[___ DEF56?ED[ 2?5 >@C6 E92? d[___ DEF56?ED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 DFCG6J 7@F?5 E92E 92=7H2J E9C@F89 u:D42= *62C Wu*X a_ae[ cc A6C46?E @7 5:DEC:4ED H6C6 D=2E65 E@ 6?5 E96 J62C 😕 2 567:4:E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%p$q~ AC65:4E65 E92E ?62C=J f_ A6C46?E @7 5:DEC:4ED H@F=5 ?665 E@ >2<6 3F586E 4FED 7@C E96:C u* a_af 3F586ED] ~7 2== 5:DEC:4ED DFCG6J65[ ca A6C46?E 2?E:4:A2E65 5@:?8 D@ H9:=6 2=D@ FD:?8 E96:C 7F?5 32=2?46 — D2G:?8D 3F:=E FA 7C@> F?DA6?E C6G6?F6 😕 AC:@C J62CD — E@ 96=A 4=@D6 E96 82A]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{2DE >@?E9[ t= !2D@ x$s k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6A:D5]@C8^2CE:4=6^b___e“Qm25@AE65k^2m 2 Sdaa]h >:==:@? 3F586E H:E9 2 Sc]b >:==:@? 567:4:E 7@C E96 a_ae–a_af D49@@= J62C[ E@ 36 A2:5 3J E96 5:DEC:4E’D C6D6CG6 7F?5] %96 5:DEC:4E 2=D@ 564=2C65 “7:?2?4:2= 6I:86?4J[” H9:49 2==@H65 7@C dd >:5\E6C> 6>A=@J66 4@?EC24E E6C>:?2E:@?D E@ C65F46 A2JC@== 6IA6?D6D 3J Sc_ >:==:@?] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmt= !2D@ x$s 3C@F89E 😕 s2==2D x$s s6AFEJ $FA6C:?E6?56?E t5F2C5@ #2>@D E@ 96=A H:E9 E96 3F586E AC@46DD] #2>@D E@=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6=A2D@>2EE6CD]@C8^a_ae^_e^`e^6=\A2D@\:D5\25@AED\3F586E\567:4:E\a_ae\E@\7:==\ECFDE66\G242?4J\3J\2AA@:?E>6?E^Qmt= !2D@ |2EE6CDk^2m E92E 3J E96 6?5 @7 yF?6[ E96 5:DEC:4E 😀 6IA64E65 E@ 92G6 Seh]h >:==:@? 😕 :ED 7F?5 32=2?46[ @C 6?@F89 E@ <66A E96 5:DEC:4E CF??:?8 7@C bg 52JD 😕 2? 6>6C86?4J]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmy2>6D “F:?E6C@[ A@=:4J 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 %2IA2J6C !C@E64E:@? !C@;64E 2E E96 %6I2D !F3=:4 !@=:4J u@F?52E:@? W%!!uX[ 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 pFDE:?\32D65 E9:?< E2?<[ DA@<6 H:E9 %96 %6I2? @? E9:D :DDF6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xEVD :?4C65:3=J 7CFDEC2E:?8 E92E 8@G6C?>6?ED 2C6 25@AE:?8 3F586ED E92E @G6CDA6?5 H92E E96:C :?4@>6 2==@HD[ 2?5 H92E E96JVC6 5@:?8 😀 67764E:G6=J 6:E96C 5C2:?:?8 E96:C D2G:?8D 244@F?E @C AFEE:?8 @77 2 =2C86C E2I :?4C62D6 :?E@ E96 7FEFC6 3642FD6 E96J 42??@E 86E E96:C DA6?5:?8 F?56C 4@?EC@=[” “F:?E6C@ D2:5] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 2DD6CE65 E92E x$sD D9@F=5 ?@E 36 2==@H65 E@ FD6 @?\E:>6 >@?6J D@FC46D DF49 2D E96:C “F?6?4F>36C65 7F?5 32=2?46[” D2J:?8 E92E DF49 D2G:?8D 244@F?ED 2C6 >62?E 7@C 6>6C86?4:6D 2?5 F?6IA64E65 6IA6?D6D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(96? E96J 4@>6 E@ C68F=2C=J C6=J @? :E E@ 86E E96> E9C@F89 6G6CJ 3F586E D62D@? @C 6G6CJ @E96C 3F586E D62D@?[ E96? E92EVD :?5:42E:G6 @7 2 DA6?5:?8 AC@3=6>[” “F:?E6C@ D2:5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“$@>6 ,5:DEC:4ED. 2C6 5@:?8 36EE6C E92? @E96CD[ 3FE 23D@=FE6=J 6G6CJ D:?8=6 @?6 @7 E96> 42? :>AC@G6 9@H E96J 2C6 EC62E:?8 E2IA2J6CD 2?5 E96 6IE6?E E@ H9:49 E96J 42? 6=:>:?2E6 H2DE6[ 7C2F5[ 2?5 23FD6[” “F:?E6C@ DE2E65] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw6 25565 E92E E96 {68:D=2EFC6 4@F=5 “62D:=J C6>65J E9:D :DDF6 H:E9 2 D:>A=6 3:E @7 DE2EFE6 E92E D2JD =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED >FDE 25@AE 3F586ED H96C6 E96:C 6IA6?5:EFC6D 5@ ?@E 6I4665 E96:C C6G6?F6D]” w6 D2:5 96 😀 @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE E96 492?46D @7 DF49 2 C6BF:C6>6?E 😕 E96 h_E9 {68:D=2E:G6 $6DD:@? E92E 368:?D 😕 y2?F2CJ[ 4:E:?8 “H:56DAC625 C64@8?:E:@? E92E =@42= AF3=:4 7:?2?46 😀 >@G:?8 😕 2 G6CJ 4@?46C?:?8 5:C64E:@?]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm!C@A6CEJ E2I6D[ H9:49 4@?DE:EFE6 2 =2C86 A@CE:@? @7 AF3=:4 D49@@= 7F?5:?8[ 2C6 2 AC:@C:EJ :DDF6 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 ?6IE =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?] v@G] vC68 p33@EE =2:5 @FE 9:D AC@A6CEJ E2I C67@C> A=2? 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?]?6HD^6=64E:@?D^a_ae^233@EE\F?G6:=D\AC:@C:EJ\AC@A6CEJ\E2I\C67@C>\D=2E6\:?4=F5:?8\=@42=\DA6?5:?8\=:>:ED\b\A6C46?E\2AAC2:D2=\42A^2CE:4=60ehd5fcb6\_535\caca\h3`d\`de7bdf274af]9E>=Qm}@G6>36Ck^2m[ 2:>:?8 E@ =:>:E =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E DA6?5:?8j 4C62E6 2 DJDE6> H96C6:? C6D:56?ED 42? A6E:E:@? 2?5 E96? G@E6 E@ C@== 324< E96:C E2I C2E6 7C@> E96 4FCC6?E =6G6=j 2?5 @776C 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E 6=:>:?2E:?8 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E E2I6D 7@C 9@>6@H?6CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@E9 {E] v@G] s2? !2EC:4< 2?5 w@FD6 $A62<6C sFDE:? qFCC@HD W#\{F33@4 A=2?D 😕 E96:C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?]?6HD^:DDF6D^E6I2D\E2I6D\DA6?5:?8^=E\8@G\52?\A2EC:4<\F?G6:=D\?6H\E9C66\A2CE\AC@A6CEJ\E2I\A=2?\7@C\a_af\D6DD:@?^2CE:4=60hfh7g`26\5cf5\ched\3426\hbe54`c2b3da]9E>=Qma_ae :?E6C:> 492C86Dk^2m] !2EC:46DE625 6I6>AE:@? 7C@> ed J62CD E@ dd[ :?4C62D6 E96 DE2?52C5 9@>6DE625 6I6>AE:@?[ 2?5 =:>:E =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED’ 23:=:EJ E@ E2I 2?5 DA6?5] qFCC@HD 492C865 w@FD6 >6>36CD H:E9 DEF5J:?8 E96 :DDF6 2?5 E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 QD:8?:7:42?E=J :?4C62D:?8 E96 9@>6DE625 2?5 3FD:?6DD A6CD@?2= AC@A6CEJ E2I 6I6>AE:@?D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%!!u’D AC@A6CEJ E2I AC@A@D2= H@F=5 8C25F2==J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6I2DA@=:4J]4@>^23@=:D9:?8\E96\C@3:?\9@@5\D49@@=\AC@A6CEJ\E2I^Qm6=:>:?2E6 E96 D49@@= >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 @A6C2E:@?D AC@A6CEJ E2Ik^2m[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?ED ?62C=J 92=7 E96 =@42= AC@A6CEJ E2I 3FC56?] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpFDE:?\32D65 25G@424J 8C@FA tG6CJ %6I2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6G6CJE6I2?]@C8^a_ae^_c^_g^EH@\AC@A6CEJ\E2I\A=2?D\@?6\7:D42=\C62=:EJ^QmAFD965 3242E6=J >2<6 E96 DJDE6> =6DD 72:C” 2?5 E92E DE2E6 =6256CD9:A D9@F=5 7@4FD @? “DEC6?8E96?:?8 @FC D49@@=D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D 3J AC6D6CG:?8 C6G6?F6 E92E DFDE2:?D E96>]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(96? =@42= AC@A6CEJ E2I6D 2C6 F?56C>:?65[ 4@>>F?:E:6D @7E6? >FDE C6D@CE E@ @E96C 7F?5:?8 >6E9@5D[ :?4=F5:?8 C2:D:?8 D2=6D E2I6D @C :?4C62D:?8 7:?6D 2?5 766D[” tG6CJ %6I2? HC@E6] k^Am
kAmp7E6C DE2E6 #6A] v:?2 w:?@;@D2 Ws\pFDE:?X[ E96 s6>@4C2E 492==6?8:?8 p33@EE 7@C 8@G6C?@C 😕 }@G6>36C[ AC@A@D65 FD:?8 E96 DE2E6’D #2:?J s2J uF?5 E@ D6?5 6G6CJ %6I2D 9@FD69@=5 2 4964< 7@C S`[d__[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?]?6HD^6=64E:@?D^a_ae^56>@4C2E:4\4@>AEC@==6C\?@>:?66\324\E6I2D\C2:?J\52J\7F?5^2CE:4=603b_c77c7\efhb\c325\34ga\c2755`b6_3ce]9E>=QmDE2E6 $6?] $2C29 t4<92C5Ek^2m Ws\pFDE:?X[ H9@ 😀 CF??:?8 7@C 4@>AEC@==6C 282:?DE #6AF3=:42? s@? wF77:?6D[ E@=5 %96 %6I2? @? (65?6D52J E92E 7F?5 😀 “D@ 3:8 E92E H6 4@F=5 A2J 5@H? E96 563E @7 6G6CJ D:?8=6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E E92E’D CF??:?8 2 567:4:E 😕 E96 DE2E6 @7 %6I2D[ 2?5 H6 H@F=5 DE:== 92G6 C@F89=J Sac 3:==:@? 😕 E92E C6D6CG6]”k^Am