SILVA PROPOSES SWEEPING BUDGET AND FISCAL CHANGES FOR EANES

Entrepreneur and CEO vows to take Eanes to the Next Level of Excellence

West Lake Hills, Texas - Today, candidate for Eanes Board of Trustees Place 5, Aaron Silva announced sweeping changes to how the board tackles the budgetary and fiscal challenges of Eanes ISD. Lurking in the background of Eanes excellent history and reputation are growing budget deficits, underpaid teachers, bond funds being diverted, and the potential of EEF being stymied. 

 

“At the current pace, by the 2026-27 school year, district cash reserves (‘safety net’) will dwindle from 3 months of operating reserves “30%) to less than 3 weeks of reserves (8%),” said Silva. “In order to address this financial situation that has created growing issues in our district, we need somebody with 30+ years of CEO and entrepreneurial experience to come up with practical and meaningful solutions. I intend to be that person.” 

 

In the 2023-24 school year, Eanes ISD Board of Trustees approved a $1.9 million budget deficit and predicted another deficit in the 2024-25 school year. Meanwhile, Eanes is projecting that teachers will only receive a 3% annual salary increase from 2024 to 2027, which will not keep up with inflationary pressures on the already high cost of living.

 

“Eanes is an exceptionally wealthy school district with $22.4 billion in state certified property value, however, we are punished for our property wealth as 61 cents of every dollar collected is lost to ‘Robinhood,’” explained Silva. “Of the dollars we are able to keep, we spend 77% ($4,762) on classroom education compared to Highland Park who spends 93% on the same. That is not a high enough efficiency rate.” 

 

Aaron goes into much greater detail on the financial issues the district faces in his recent policy paper, An Entrepreneur's Eye on the Budget. 

 

While the finances are an important part of Silva’s campaign plank, he is also focused on building community trust, forging stronger partnerships with parents, achieving excellence in the classroom, and rewarding Eanes’ excellent teachers. 

​

“I’ve been signing the front of paychecks since my early twenties, so I’ve proven I know how to successfully operate and grow multi-million dollar enterprises into the future. If I am elected, I will bring that creative CEO’s mindset to the Board, working to build on the District’s successes while ending the unsustainable fiscal practices and policies over many years that are now raising their heads and potentially jeopardizing our future,” concluded Silva.

 

##