SAISD identifies $19.3 million in budget reduction
District expects to reduce structural deficit in half
March 16, 2026 – San Antonio ISD is addressing a projected structural deficit of approximately $45.9 million, with district leaders aiming to reduce that gap by half in the 2026-27 budget.
During a budget workshop Monday night, district administration informed the SAISD Board of Trustees that $19.3 million in reductions have been identified so far for the upcoming school year.
“We continue to work toward finding additional opportunities for reductions,” said Superintendent Jaime Aquino. “This is not a new challenge. We have been responsibly managing declining revenues and rising costs for several years.”
Over the past four years, SAISD has implemented consecutive budget reductions totaling nearly $46 million, which included the elimination of 352 positions. The proposed 2026-27 budget would represent the largest single-year reduction in the last five years.
Student-centered approach to reductions
As part of the budget planning process, every decision is made through the lens of protecting students and sustaining academic growth. The district is following student-centered guidelines designed to minimize impacts on classrooms:
Eliminating vacancies not directly tied to student outcomes, essential student support or critical services.
Prioritizing the least disruptive reductions to minimize impact on schools, classrooms, and student services.
Reviewing opportunities to reduce or eliminate contracted services where feasible.
Redirecting resources to Priority Schools to accelerate improvement and close achievement gaps.
Offering early financial incentives to eligible staff to reduce the need for involuntary reductions and lessen overall impact.
More than half of the reductions – $10.2 million – are being made at the central office level.
Districtwide, the proposed 2026-27 budget includes reductions to 224 FTE positions, though many of those positions already are vacant. The reductions at the central office represent nearly 11% of the total central office budget. In alignment with the district’s principle of minimizing the impact on schools, classrooms, and student services, the reductions to campus budgets represent approximately 2% of total campus budgets.
“These reductions have required discipline, difficult decisions, and a deep commitment to prioritizing students,” Aquino said. “We are proposing a budget for consideration by the Board that is aligned to our values, advances the district toward financial sustainability and Board goal attainment, and focused on improved learning for our students.”
The district acknowledges that several uncertainties could still affect its budget projections, including the potential impact of vouchers and continued enrollment declines.
Academic progress continues
Despite its fiscal challenges, SAISD reports continued academic progress in the past four years. District students surpass pre-pandemic levels for attendance, reading and college readiness.
The district’s attendance rate has climbed more than three percentage points, reaching approximately 91.14% cumulatively as of March 5.
College enrollment numbers are reaching an all-time high with 58% of the Class of 2024 enrolling within a year of high school graduation. This number surpasses nationwide benchmarks for high poverty schools and high minority schools, which have experienced a decline in college enrollment over the past four years.
On state assessments, third through eighth grade reading scores are 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Looking ahead
SAISD leaders say the district is already planning for the 2027-28 budget cycle with the goal of eliminating its structural deficit while continuing to prioritize classroom investments.