HISD facing $107 million budget shortfall under current structure

(KPRC2/Click2Houston.com)

HOUSTON – Under the current funding structure in Texas, Houston Independent School District will have to send millions of dollars back to the state, HISD announced on Thursday.

This money will be distributed to districted that are deemed to be "property-poor."

Recommended Videos



Even with nearly 80 percent of HISD students coming from low-income families, the district is considered property-wealthy under the state’s current funding formula due to rising property values in the city.

The recaptured payment will  cause a budget shortfall that may result in significant campus and district reductions. Deputy Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Ken Huewitt insisted to trustees that teaching and learning would remain HISD's top priority. The 2016-17 budget will focus on students and classrooms.

District and campus administrators have been told to to review their budgets to find potential cuts.

The 2016-2017 budget update was presented on Thursday during an HISD Board of Education workshop. Another budget workshop is expected to be scheduled in early March.