Turning the Page on Deficit Budgets

If you’ve ever sat at the kitchen table trying to make a family budget work, you know how important it is to balance what comes in with what goes out. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about priorities. That’s why, as a parent and a public CFO, I was deeply concerned to learn that Eanes ISD, including my opponent, has approved deficit budgets six years in a row.

Since 2019, the board has signed off on budgets that spent more than the district brought in:

• 2019–2020: ($3,220,072)

• 2020–2021: ($3,944,441)

• 2021–2022: ($1,010,737)

• 2022–2023: ($1,035,853)

• 2023–2024: ($1,917,493)

• 2024–2025: ($1,188,689)

That’s over $12 million in deficits—approved with the hope that someone could "find" the money later. But budgeting shouldn’t be based on hope. It should be based on discipline, planning, and a commitment to students and staff.

And here’s what’s most troubling: during that same time, property tax revenue increased by more than $36 million. We weren’t in a downturn—we were simply choosing not to invest wisely. Teachers were treated as a line item instead of as a priority. Teacher Rraises were delayed, inconsistent, and out of step with the market.

When I talk to educators, I hear the same refrain: "We love this community, but we can’t afford to stay." That’s heartbreaking—and it’s fixable.

A Smarter Way Forward

Budgets are moral documents. They reflect what we choose to value. As a CFO who manages a $700M budget for a major public agency, I’ve learned that you can’t fund everything—but you can fund what matters most if you start with the right plan.

If elected, here’s what I’ll bring to Eanes:

✔️ No more deficit budgets. I will not approve a budget deficit and I will work hard to bring forward conversations that tie funding to strategic priorities. Hope is not a strategy.
✔️ Teachers first. Competitive pay and classroom support will be non-negotiables, not afterthoughts.
✔️ Transparency and clarity. Every taxpayer should know where our dollars go—and why.

We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. Eanes deserves better. With the right leadership, we can protect our district’s excellence, support our teachers, and rebuild trust in how our resources are managed.

Early voting starts April 22. Let’s write the next chapter together.

With gratitude,
Catherine Walker, Candidate for Eanes ISD School Board, Place 6