GCISD trustees OK $9.8 million deficit budget

Grapevine-Colleyville school board members approved an operating budget for 2015-16 with a $9.8 million deficit with the hope that this year will follow the pattern of last year, with the shortfall shrinking greatly over the 12 months.

Trustees voted 6-1 at the June 15 school board meeting to approve a daily operations budget of almost $150 million.

Trustee Leon Leal said he opposed the budget because of the size of the deficit.

GCISD Superintendent Robin Ryan said he would anticipate the deficit to be significantly lower at the end of the fiscal year, similar to what happened in 2014-15.

The district started with a deficit in the daily operations budget of almost $9.8 million a year ago.

At the June 15 meeting, officials said the actual shortage for 2014-15 would be just under $1.8 million.

“We do budget conservatively, and we also try to save at every point during the year to reduce the deficit,” Ryan said.

Whatever deficit that remains at the end of the cycle will be covered by district savings, or fund balance, currently above $50 million.

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 10:35 AM with the headline "GCISD trustees OK $9.8 million deficit budget."