CFISD audit: lower spending per student but payroll share high, trustees hear

An outside audit presented Wednesday found that Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District generated $11,330 in total revenue per student in 2024-25, below peer and state averages, while spending $11,193 per student, also below peers. Greg Peterson of Weaver & Tidwell summarized the comparisons and said the data are intended to inform voters before any voter-approval tax-rate election.

"The district generated $11,330 per student compared to the peer districts, which had 12,592, and the state, which generated $13,256, per student," Greg Peterson said during his presentation. Peterson also noted payroll costs are a large share of expenditures: "payroll cost ... was 83.8%, which is higher than both peer districts and state." The audit covered fiscal years 2024-25 unless otherwise noted.

Board members pressed auditors on specific areas. Trustees asked how "economically disadvantaged" students are identified; auditors and staff explained those counts come from district data submitted through PEIMS and free-and-reduced-lunch reporting. Trustees also discussed categorical differences: the district showed a higher percentage of spending in instruction and relatively low general-administration costs, while transportation and community services were higher in categorical comparisons, partly because the district includes early-learning centers in that line.

Karen Smith, CFO, stressed the audit follows Legislative Budget Board guidelines and is intended to provide transparent information to voters and the community. The board received the draft report and asked staff to post the full efficiency audit in the board book and on the district website for public review prior to any election.