Austin ISD proposes $6 million cut to district police, eliminating 40 vacant positions

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin ISD’s newly released budget-cut proposal includes nearly $6 million in reductions to the district’s police department, a move that would eliminate about half of the department’s positions.

The proposal calls for cutting 40 officer positions from an 82-person department. While that number appears significant, the 40 positions listed for elimination were already vacant on paper, according to the proposal. The cuts would save the district a little under $6 million.

The proposed reductions come as Texas law requires an armed security guard on all campuses. The requirement was passed by the state Legislature in 2023 in the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde. The mandate was described as underfunded, allotting about $21,000 per officer, while school districts say officers cost closer to $60,000 or $70,000 a year.

District releases detailed list of proposed cuts across campuses, programs and staffing

Austin ISD did not respond to questions about what the proposed police budget cuts mean in light of the state law.

During the public meeting last night, Superintendent Matias Segura acknowledged the impact of the district’s budget situation, saying, “I just want to acknowledge the pain that our community, that our staff, that really everybody in the city is feeling as we navigate these very difficult budget challenges and decisions.”

The police department reductions are part of broader, systemwide cuts under consideration as the district works to address a $181 million budget deficit.