Mike R. Waldrip, Superintendent Frisco Independent School District | Official website
Frisco Independent School District (FISD) has unveiled a balanced budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year, following efforts to restructure programs and introduce new revenue sources. Since 2016, FISD has employed a Priorities-Based Budget approach aimed at reducing or eliminating spending in non-priority areas while maintaining a focus on student learning and support.
Kimberly Smith, Frisco ISD’s chief finance and strategy officer, stated that further restructuring and program changes are expected to achieve a fully balanced budget by the time of the Board of Trustees vote in June. This follows three consecutive years of deficit budgets, prompting trustees to mandate a balanced budget for long-term financial health.
Key savings have been identified through various measures: $15 million from staff restructuring, $800,000 from extracurricular program changes, and $1.5 million from non-instructional expenses. However, final enrollment numbers, inflationary factors, and state funding formulas remain uncertain as they await legislative decisions.
Frisco ISD is committed to being responsible stewards of public funds while ensuring effective use of taxpayer dollars to support student success. The district is navigating inflationary pressures and declining enrollment by making difficult but necessary adjustments. Most staffing savings will be achieved through attrition without affecting classroom experiences.
To counteract projected losses due to declining enrollment exceeding $17 million, the district has introduced Access Frisco—an open transfer program beginning in 2025-26—to welcome students from outside district boundaries. Over 330 students have accepted seats at available campuses under this program, generating an additional $3 million in state funding.
For the current year ending in 2024-25, officials announced that the previously estimated $30 million deficit has been reduced to $3 million using Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone funds and an $8 million one-time property value audit from the state. A $3 million deficit aligns with historical spending trends and is considered balanced.
As FISD develops its final budget for 2025-26, it will evaluate savings from staff turnover, potential reductions in central office positions on hold, staffing needs related to HB3 mandates, pay raises, and other departmental changes. Public workshops throughout spring offer insights into ongoing budget developments.
The district remains focused on strategic planning and efficiency measures amid financial challenges while ensuring high-quality education for its students.
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