Clovis school board passes budget

The Clovis Municipal Schools board of education unanimously passed a $173.9 million budget for fiscal year 2024-25 Tuesday at their regular monthly meeting.

Marking this year’s budget $4.7 million less than the previous fiscal year. CMS Senior Director of Finance Heather Nieto said there were some factors that played into the budget decrease.

“Some of the biggest reasons for the budget to change are the expiration of some funds as of June 30 and the rise in insurance costs going up 15.53% as well as the increase in risk insurance up to 36%,” Nieto said.

Nieto said the insurance increase will begin in September paychecks for both employees and employers within the school district.

The main reason the risk insurance increased, Nieto said, was due to the hail storm that happened earlier in the year.

Nieto said one of the more notable aspects in the budget was the increased pay for educators’ salaries as well.

“As per the outcome of the most recent legislative session. All educators in New Mexico are required to receive a minimum 3% raise in the coming year,” CMS Superintendent Renee Russ said.

Russ said the budget approved is for the 2025 fiscal year that runs from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.