The process of pinching pennies is underway for Hays CISD officials as they aim to rectify a projected deficit prior to finalizing its 2019 budget.

Even with trimming roughly $2.1 million in expenses, the district still faces the possibility of operating $5.9 million in the red next fiscal year.

It could lead to the district having “some hard discussions” in the future on how they can fix the problem, said Hays CISD superintendent Eric Wright.

Annette Folmar, Hays CISD chief financial o...