A committee tasked with finding ways to cut millions from the Austin school district’s budget is examining every department, program and revenue source to determine how to keep the school system solvent. Options could include cutting programs that are more expensive per student involved or benefit few students, redrawing school boundaries and shuttering schools.

The group's work comes as the Austin school district for two consecutive years has adopted spending plans with deficits — this year $29 million — and in three years, budget forecasts project the district is on track to deplete its fund balance.

The district this year will forfeit $669.6 million in local property tax revenue to the state under Texas school finance laws to help subsidize the cost of education in districts with low property wealth. The amount is up nearly 23 percent, or $123 million, over last year and consumes 42 percent of the district’s overall budget of $1.3 billion. The recapture payment is projected to grow and will eclipse the amount of money the district gets to keep for its own operating expenses in two years. This year's operating budget is $775.2 million.

The task force — composed of parents, school staff, activists and other stakeholders — has spent months looking for efficiencies and ways to boost revenue. At Monday night's school board meeting, the group will give its first update to trustees.

“We were charged with being courageous ... to come together to work as a collective whole to make a list of recommendations for them to consider,” said parent Robert Thomas, the group’s chairman. “The buck stops with the trustees. They have a structural budget deficit; they’ll need to take extreme actions to fix it.”

Originally slated to provide recommendations to the board on Monday, the group will tell the board it needs more time, Thomas said. It is now expected to provide the board in late November with a list of prioritized options that detail how each choice will affect the whole district and whether choosing such options would run contrary to the district’s strategic plan.

The task force’s work is expected to help shape the 2019-20 budget, which administrators are scheduled to present to the board in February, and which the board is expected to vote on in June.

“I’m grateful the task force is taking their role seriously and considering all the options,” board President Geronimo Rodriguez said. “It’s so important to be transparent that everything is on the table. We can’t afford to not have all options on the table.”

The task force will weigh the costs of programs relative to the numbers of students who benefit — parents are concerned specialty programs like fine arts eventually could be in jeopardy — and finding ways to better compensate highly effective teachers and providing incentives to move them into schools with high numbers of low-income or academically struggling children.

Among the most controversial proposals, the task force could recommend redrawing school boundaries and consolidating campuses districtwide, not just in East Austin, where many schools are underenrolled.

“What we’re trying to be is thoughtful and engaging as AISD parents and stakeholders,” Thomas said. “Special interests, unique interests have driven the discussions that have caused trustees and administrative staff to not make tough decisions.”

Parents worry that potential budget cuts could result in reduction of staff and fewer specialty programs that keep students in the district.

Sarah Evascu said her daughter Zoë found her niche in the visual arts program at McCallum High School’s Fine Arts Academy. Without the program, the Evascu family couldn’t afford private art lessons and coaching that Zoë receives daily at the school.

“She was the kind of kid who AISD was in danger of losing and found a path,” Evascu said. “I believe she’s in public school right now because this is an option that she feels passionate about. We’re in AISD because of this kind of programming.”