HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted 5-4 against a proposed 2018-2019 budget.
"Next year, we’re gonna be in a deficit and the year after that and the year after that and what I don’t want people from the public to think is that we misspent money or whatever," Board Member Jolanda Jones said.
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The proposed budget included $19.2 million in spending for special education, dyslexia programs, Achieve 180 and a planned performance audit.
Achieve 180 is a program introduced last school year to support underserved and underperforming schools.
The overall budget was proposed at $2 billion.
"However, what I want to say is ... for the second year in a row we have a deficit budget," Board Member Anne Sung said.
State law requires the district to approve a budget by June 30.
The Board unanimously approved a district-wide holiday and day of community service in honor of Latino empowerment icons Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta on March 31 of the Monday that precedes the date. The holiday will be recognized starting in the 2019-2020 school year.
Chavez and Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers labor union. They also fought for civil rights, safe working conditions and safe food.