Val Verde budget approved with a $19.7 million spending gap

What happened

The county approved the 2026–27 budget with a projected $19.7 million unrestricted spending gap. It also called flat attendance forecasts for the next two years optimistic and recommended a contingency plan.

Why it matters to families

Lower attendance than forecast would reduce school funding and could widen the recurring gap. The county asks the district to plan for that risk; its letter does not adopt cuts.

The evidence

The August 28 county review projects unrestricted gaps of $19.7 million, $12.1 million and $11 million through 2028–29. It says 17,587 projected 2026–27 ADA is down 0.8% from prior-year certified P-2 ADA and calls flat later-year attendance optimistic based on historical trends. Current-year fund balances and cash remain positive, with projected compliance with the state reserve minimum.

The source