Like other Texas school districts, Leander ISD (LISD) is in the process of rightsizing its workforce and budget after a decade-long period of unguarded growth. As reported in greater detail by the Austin American-Statesman:
“The Leander school district announced plans to slash more than 200 campus-level staff positions—including nearly 150 teachers — and $3 million in salaries from its central office to help reduce a $34.4 million budget deficit that administrators have forecast for the 2025-26 school year.” [emphasis mine]
Later in the article, LISD’s superintendent explains that the district’s fiscal woes are the result of 3 factors: less federal money, slower enrollment growth, and a lack of state money. Oddly, he made no mention of how local decision-making contributed to the district’s predicament.
Wanting to know more about what role, if any, LISD officials played in all this, I dug through the district’s latest Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), which provides a host of audited data for public consumption. It’s a dense-but-useful document (and it’s available for all governmental entities!) that can help test claims and examine actual trends in fiscal matters and more. A quick scan of the ACFR raises some critical questions about where the responsibility actually lies.
Looking at a smattering of data, it’s easy to see that there’s an imbalance between the government’s consumption of tax dollars and the demand for services. As I mentioned recently on X, consider that from 2015 to 2024, LISD’s general operating expenses rose almost 68%; its per pupil spending was up 42%; and its debt outstanding jumped by almost 21%. In comparison, its student population only increased by roughly 14%. In other words, LISD is consuming at a far faster clip than necessary.
It only makes sense that, after a 10-year spending splurge, the district is finally forced to deal with its consequences, likely requiring both budget reductions and rightsizing. It’s not a situation that anyone should celebrate, but it’s also not one that should catch anyone by surprise.
There’s only so long that the Spenders can keep spending before the party comes to an end. LISD is learning that lesson now.