School board hears budget comparisons

PLANO -- The budgeting process is well underway for Plano ISD, which is facing an expected $10.5 million budget shortfall for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

At Tuesday night's school board meeting, the board was shown how the district stacks up against six of its neighbors in terms of spending. When compared to the other districts, it was apparent that Plano was at the top in terms of instructional spending, while sitting near the bottom in administration spending.

"This shows our board that we are putting our money in instruction, not in other areas," said Richard Matkin, the district's interim superintendent. "We want to put our budget dollars in instruction. When you just look at our budget you may not realize it, but you do see that when you look at our peers."

Plano's finances were compared to those of Garland ISD's, Lewisville ISD's, Mesquite ISD's, Richardson ISD's, Irving ISD's and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD's. Matkin said the district has used the same six districts for comparison for the last several years. The districts were chosen based on enrollment, which ranges from 58,100 in Garland to 26,300 in Carrollton-Farmers Branch. While nearby districts such as McKinney and Frisco were not included in the comparison, Matkin said those districts are used when the district is comparing salaries in order to remain competitive.

Plano ranked second among all districts in terms of instructional spending per student, spending an even $5,000. Lewisville was first at $5,017, while Garland was last at $4,302. Linda Madden, Plano ISD's executive director of finance, said the numbers are calculated based on the state formula for refined average daily attendance, with each $10 difference in spending representing a total of $550,000 of budget allocation.

"If you look at Plano compared to Carrollton-Farmers Branch, which is right in the middle (at $4,834 per student), you have over a $9 million difference in what we put into instructional spending versus what a district in the middle does. You can see there is a considerable difference in the top and the bottom of the peer group."

Madden pointed out that under the school finance plan passed last year by the 82nd State Legislature, all districts in the state received a 6.4 percent reduction in state funding for the 2011-2012 budget cycle. However, in the upcoming budget cycle, Chapter 42 districts, such as Mesquite and Garland who are not considered property-wealthy, will receive an increase in funding. Chapter 41, or "Robin Hood" districts such as Plano, will continue to see a reduction in funding.

Plano also finished at or near the top in two spending functions which are related to classroom instruction: library spending and curriculum and staff development spending. Plano spent $142 per student on libraries, the most among any district, while spending $106 on staff development, the third highest amount.

The areas where Plano finished near the bottom dealt with administration spending. On campus/instructional leadership, Plano spent only $473 per student, the lowest amount of the seven districts. The highest amount was spent by Carrollton-Farmers Branch, which spent $675 per student.

Plano was also at or near the bottom in counseling and social services, health services, extracurricular and general administration spending. Madden made special mention to the board regarding general administration spending, where Plano spends $155 per student compared to $269 for Carrollton-Farmers Branch, which leads the seven-school group.

"We are pleased to show you that we fall to the bottom [of general administration spending]," she said. "We strongly believe that funds need to go to the classroom and this comparison clearly shows that we are well below [other districts]. There is a $6.2 million difference from the top to the bottom of this category."

When the functions related to instructional spending are totaled, Plano is at the top with $5,249 spent per student. Lewisville ISD is second at $5,217 per student, while Carrollton-Farmers Branch is third at $5,085 per student. Garland brings up the rear with $4,554 spent per student.

Plano is second to last when the functions not directly related to instructional spending are totaled, spending $2,308 per student. Plano was only trailed by Richardson at $2,299 per student, while Carrollton-Farmers Branch led the way at $2,944 per student.

Plano ISD's lean budget was the result of a severe reduction in state funding. Prior to the current school year, PISD was dealt a $25 million cut in funding, a move that Matkin said forced the district to make across-the-board cuts.

The drastic cuts in state funding have spawned several lawsuits challenging the inequality of state funding, one of which Plano ISD is part of. If the suit is successful, Matkin said the district, as well as other property-wealthy districts, should receive more money funding for the 2013-2014 school year.

"We expect to win a lawsuit and look to the next legislative session for some relief," he said. "Quite frankly, with all of the schools, the only place to go for the big dollars is in direct instruction. That is what this lawsuit is all about.

"As we see those other school districts which are in the lower end of the functional level, they are all getting more money next year. The ones that are in the top ... are going to lose money again next year. The purpose is trying to bring equity to all schools. Unfortunately [the state is] not trying to bring the bottom level to the top, they are trying to bring the top level to meet the bottom level somewhere in the middle."

The board will discuss departmental budgets at its April 17 work session, and will discuss the district's compensation plan at its May 1 meeting. One final work session will be held on May 17 to wrap up any loose ends, before a final budget will be adopted at the June 5 meeting.

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