CISD Board approves balanced budget

After months of cost-saving reviews and budget adjustments to address a projected deficit, the Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday night adopted a balanced budget for the 2025-26 academic year.

The $65.8 million budget includes state-funded salary increases for classroom teachers and other instructional support staff, along with an increase in the district’s contribution to employee health care costs. 

“The adoption of a balanced budget is a testament to the hard work and tough decisions made by the Board and administration after facing a significant deficit driven by years of inadequate state funding for public education,” Superintendent Pedro Galaviz said. “We’re proud to show our taxpayers once again that Canutillo ISD is committed to fiscal responsibility, but this has been a journey that required many sacrifices — some we wish we didn’t have to make.”

The approved budget includes salary increases for teachers funded through the state’s Teacher Retention Allotment under House Bill 2. Teachers with three or four years of experience will receive $2,500 raises, while those with five or more years will receive $5,000. Teachers not covered under the allotment will also see increases: $500 for those with zero years of experience, $1,000 for one year, and $1,250 for two years.

The Teacher Retention Allotment applies only to classroom teachers and excludes other instructional roles such as principals, counselors, instructional coaches, librarians and central office administrators.

The district is also providing a 1 percent salary increase from midpoint for staff eligible under the new Support Staff Retention Allotment. Those receiving the pay increase include counselors, instructional coaches, librarians, nurses and hourly support staff such as custodians, aides, cafeteria workers, clerical staff and bus drivers.

Central office administrators are not included in the compensation plan adopted by the board.

The budget also includes a $100 increase in the district’s monthly contribution toward health insurance for all employees enrolled in the district’s plan, helping offset rising out-of-pocket costs.

“We’re pleased to have approved not only a balanced budget, but also a compensation package that supports the frontline staff who directly impact our teaching and learning efforts,” Board President Armando Rodriguez said. “While we understand that educating children is a collective effort by all staff, we’re simply not in a financial position to provide salary adjustments for every employee at this time.”

“Our goal is to achieve financial solvency and begin rebuilding our reserves so we can eventually fund the initiatives we know our students and employees deserve,” he said.

Earlier this spring, district officials warned of a projected $6 million deficit for the upcoming school year, citing reduced average daily attendance, rising costs and stagnant state funding as key factors.

In response, the district implemented several cost-saving measures, including reductions to operational department budgets, the restructuring of services and programs, elimination of some contracted services and a reduction in force. Those efforts significantly closed the funding gap, and additional revenue from House Bill 2 helped eliminate the remaining shortfall.

Trustees on Tuesday also adopted the District’s debt service and child nutrition funds, both of which were balanced. 

A tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year will be set by trustees later this year.