Buffalo ISD staff warn of likely $500,000 shortfall as ADA falls

During the budget workshop portion of the meeting, the district's presenter outlined how average daily attendance (ADA) drives state funding and said recent ADA declines have reduced the district's revenue. "I mean we are probably there is a 100% chance that we're gonna be in a deficit budget," the presenter said while reviewing a preliminary budget built on the district's current ADA-driven funding estimate.

Staff showed a cash snapshot and said the district had about $11.1 million in combined maintenance-and-operations funds as of Aug. 31, 2025, but cautioned that continued low ADA could force drawing roughly $500,000 from fund balance to cover operating needs next year. Trustees discussed options to avoid recurring expenditures until revenue stabilizes, and noted plans to rerun ADA reports after the first six weeks of school to refine projections.