The Joint Community Budget Committee convened on Tuesday to examine the Operations Department budget, which encompasses maintenance, facilities, custodial, and transportation services. This meeting marked the first phase of their exploration into potential budget reductions.
The significance of this initiative lies in the district's dual approach: seeking voter approval for increased funding for teacher salaries and classroom support while simultaneously working to cut costs to balance the budget over the next three years.
During the meeting, committee members divided into small groups to identify ways to reduce expenses or generate revenue within each operations division. Some proposed measures include evaluating bussing for magnet schools or considering virtual course offerings to lower transportation costs and marketing facilities as rental spaces to boost income.
Fuerza Linda Kitcher, a parent committee member from Austin ISD, expressed her satisfaction with the formation of this committee. She stated, "I'm glad that Austin ISD has assembled this committee because community stakeholders need to know that they have been heard and that the district is responding to all ideas and concerns."
The committee plans to continue its weekly meetings, with future evaluations focusing on departments such as Technology, Austin ISD Police, and Legal Services. Any potential cuts will be assessed using an equity-based rubric before final recommendations are made by the district’s administration team to the board of trustees.
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