Grapevine-Colleyville ISD could have surplus FY 2026-27 budget, factors in further staff reductions

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD officials presented an updated budget projection for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which could result in a surplus. Trustees received the update, along with three different compensation adjustment models from a Texas Association of School Boards representative, during the May 18 meeting.   What you need to know Based on the preliminary budget presented, net revenues for the FY 2026-27 general fund could be nearly $147.37 million, Chief Financial Officer Carla Settle said. Projected general fund expenditures are $147.28 million. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD projected expenses FY 2026-27 Grapevine-Colleyville ISD's projected general fund expenditures are $147.28 million. This would result in a projected surplus of $91,112 in the general fund, according to Settle’s presentation. Additionally, the preliminary budget included calculations for staff raises, based on one option, Model 1, presented by TASB HR and Compensation Consultant Nicolle Gee-Guzman. The proposed raises included in the preliminary budget calculation are 1% of the midpoint raises for teachers, professionals and technology staff, and 2% of the midpoint raises for clerical, instructional and auxiliary staff. Settle said the projected expenditures also factored in an increased contribution to health insurance premiums to ensure Affordable Care Act compliance, which has a cost of $450,000. Projected contributions and raises will be finalized as part of the board’s approval of the budget and compensation plan for FY 2026-27 at a future meeting. Breaking it down Gee-Guzman presented three different raise models, each of which has a varying projected impact on GCISD’s budget. According to the presentation, Model 1 factors in 1% raises for teachers, professionals and technology staff, and 2% raises for clerical, instructional and auxiliary staff, along with other adjustments. The projected cost to the district to enact the plan would be $1.8 million. Model 2 would provide 1.5% raises for all staff, along with other adjustments, for a cost of $2.19 million. The final option, Model 3, calculated a 2% raise for all staff and other adjustments, which would result in a $2.71 million cost. “It’s clear that we have some work to do in this regard,” board President Dalia Begin said, referencing GCISD’s existing compensation. “We have some work to do, and we want to do the best that we [can] to take care of our staff members financially.” Diving deeper GCISD officials also presented updated staffing reduction numbers as part of the budget projection. Based on the new figures, the district could save nearly $5.24 million through targeted reductions for FY 2026-27. Chief Human Resources Officer Kelly Mires said further reductions across several departments could save the district $1.99 million in FY 2026-27. This is beyond the $3.2 million in staffing-related savings made through elementary campus consolidations, staff reductions to accommodate decreased enrollment and benefit savings, which was presented in late April. “These reductions were approached strategically to align staffing with enrollment trends while protecting class size ratios and minimizing the impact on student services and instructional support,” Mires said. While there were reductions, GCISD has added positions for support at iUniversity Prep and the ASPIRE Academy. Looking ahead Trustees are expected to hold a public hearing and adopt the budget at the June 15 meeting. Certified tax values for property within the district will be available in July, and trustees will adopt the tax rate in September. By Connor Pittman  Connor is the editor for the Flower Mound-Highland Village-Argyle and Grapevine-Colleyville-Southlake editions. He joined Community Impact in June 2023 and covered city councils and school districts in Coppell, Grapevine, Plano and Richardson. He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in journalism and political science. Before joining Community Impact, he covered government, business and education for local newspapers in Wylie, Sachse and Princeton.