For Release: November 19, 2021 Contact: Denise Sheehan, dsheehan.nea@gmail.

com
Alice Chavez-Villa, avilla@neanm.org

NEA-LC Releases Surprising Results of Financial Analysis for LCPS District

Las Cruces, N.M. — NEA-LC (National Education Association-Las Cruces) released findings of a recent fiscal
analysis which shows, contrary to claims otherwise, the District appears to have ample funds for much-needed
investments to retain and attract highly qualified staff.

“We suspected that Las Cruces was behind other districts in the state when it came to increases in teacher salaries,
but we had no idea we were this far behind. As the second largest school district in the state, we should be leading
the way, not trailing behind,” said NEA-LC President Denise Sheehan. “This was especially disheartening when
we compared it with what the District budgeted verses what it actually spent. We’re all for fiscal responsibility,
but continuingly carrying over $20 million in unspent dollars while declining to invest in competitive salaries and
benefits and smaller class sizes hurts our ability to attract and retain educators.”

“It’s been a rough year and a half for our students and our staff. And to make matters worse, we are now facing
the largest teacher shortage in recent memory—causing class sizes to balloon and eliminating the crucial planning
and preparation time that educators require to do their job well,” stated Sheehan. “But instead of investing in
modest increases to salaries and benefits, the district has chosen to sock away tens of millions of dollars in
unrestricted cash carryover for the last five years. Other districts increased their cash carryover 75%. Las Cruces
has increased its cash carryover by a whooping 208%. Those funds should be invested in our school sites, our
students, and in the people who serve our students, our educators” continued Sheehan.

“We call on the district to reconsider their current financial practices and align them with their stated values by
investing in our future, by investing in our students, our school sites, and our staff. They need to recognize the
educators who have chosen to stay in the classroom in spite of the health risks and challenging conditions. For us,
education isn't just a job, it's a calling. But we still need to pay our bills—and we shouldn’t have to work a second
and third job to do so. We need educator pay that attracts and helps retain the best people. ”

Summary findings:

 Over the last five years, the average teacher salary statewide, and at other large school districts, has
increased significantly faster than Las Cruces.
 For the past five years (2017-2021), Las Cruces Public Schools’ year-end financial results varied
significantly from the District’s budget. Specifically, the District’s operational fund expenditures were
millions less than budgeted, and that discrepancy grew larger each year. Fund revenues did not show a
similar pattern, and year-end results were close to the budgeted amounts. Unsurprisingly, the operational
fund also reported a surplus of revenues over expenditures each year.

 At the same time, the operational fund’s cash carryover grew by more than $20 million in the past five
years. Since 2017, the District’s approved budget reflects that the district assigned the entire cash
carryover to cover expenditures, ending the year with balanced budget. However, the year-end financial
results show the District has not used any of those carryover funds and has increased the carryover amount
by adding year-end surpluses.
 Las Cruces has increased its cash carryover by more than 200% since 2017. This increase is not typical -
Las Cruces increased its cash much faster than the median for other large districts (73%) and for the
districts statewide (75%) during the same time period.