At the regular monthly meeting of the Montgomery ISD school board, trustees heard a report on the district’s financial audit.
Pattillo Brown & Hill, LLP serves as the district’s external auditing firm. Partner Kent Willis reported that the firm had completed their audit of the district’s 2025 financial statements and issued an unmodified opinion – the highest level of assurance provided in a school district audit.
“We appreciate our auditors for conducting a thorough review of our district finances,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “I also want to thank CFO Ben Davidson and our financial services team for their diligent work to ensure the district’s financial operations are managed with transparency and integrity, and guided by a strong system of internal controls.”
Following the annual audit, the district had the capacity to add money back into its fund balance. Best practice recommends that school districts maintain the equivalent of 90 days of operational costs in their fund balance, and auditors noted that this year’s deposit was a positive step toward strengthening the district’s overall financial position.
“A school district’s budget is not unlike a household budget, and strengthening our fund balance – our ‘savings’ – is one of the most important steps we can take to protect the long-term financial health of Montgomery ISD,” Board President Eddie Winn said. “Adding money back into the fund balance after the audit demonstrates that we are being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and planning wisely for the future.”
Demographers Update
The board also received an update from a third-party demographic study conducted by Zonda, a firm specializing in housing market research and school district enrollment projections.
Representatives from Zonda reported there are 33 active housing subdivisions within Montgomery ISD, with 18 potential future subdivisions in various stages of planning. Groundwork is currently underway on more than 2,500 lots within nine subdivisions.
“This demographic report reinforces how important it is for us to be proactive in future planning in a fiscally responsible way,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “Gathering accurate data is essential to ensuring we are utilizing our school facilities as efficiently and effectively as possible, while preserving the qualities that make MISD a place where families want to be.”
Zonda will provide the district with a final demographic study for the 2025-26 school year this upcoming spring. The fall report can be viewed here.
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