Comptroller Launches State Review of Austin ISD Spending

Overview

• The Texas comptroller announced on Monday that his office will review Austin ISD along with Barbers Hill, El Paso and Prosper ISDs in a performance audit ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott.
• The review will examine whether district spending follows state law and is directed to students, classrooms and teachers instead of administrative or noninstructional costs.
• Comptroller Don Huffines said the office will finish a final report by Dec. 31, a timeline officials say gives the 90th Legislature time to consider any recommendations.
• Local leaders fault the selection process and motives because Huffines did not explain why those four districts were chosen, and state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt called the review politically driven.
• Austin ISD faces an $181 million shortfall that led trustees to cut more than 500 positions, close 11 schools and reduce services after losing roughly 2,300 students, a drop that directly lowers state funding under Texas enrollment formulas.