(The Center Square) – In September, the Dallas Independent School District’s school board passed a resolution in which it notified the governor that it needed $14 billion in “new funding” to match the buying power the district had in 2019 due to “record inflation.”
But an audited 2023 budget showed the district had record level of revenues and exceeded $2 billion for the first time. The budget document was delivered to the school board last month. Total expenditures by the district increased from $1.4 billion in 2014 to $2.2 billion in 2023.
That report showed the district’s cost-per-pupil spending had increased by 38% above cost of inflation from 2014 to 2023.
The annual budget documents showing the district’s costs per pupil have increased from $11,394 in 2014 to $15,740 in 2023. When adjusted for inflation, that is a 38% increase above inflation. Enrollment dropped from 159,713 in 2014 to 141,169 in 2023.
While costs per pupil have increased, the district has still seen an increase within its workforce despite the drop in student enrollment.
The number of district employees has increased from 20,793 in 2014 to 23,984 in 2023.
Due to the pandemic, the district received a big boost in federal funding, as did all public school districts across the country. Federal revenue has increased to $621.8 million in 2023, the highest ever and more than double what it was in pre-pandemic years. In 2018, the district received $305.3 million in federal revenue.
On Sept. 28, The board of trustees of the Dallas Independent School Board adopted a resolution asking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for more funding due to the 19% increase in inflation since 2019.
The resolution discusses the requirements of the state of Texas to make suitable provisions for “an efficient system” of free and public schools. Texas schools public school districts accept every student including special needs students and emerging English learning students. The resolution goes on to compare the difference between public and private funding.
The Dallas Independent School District did not reply to email seeking comment.
