Pittsford Central School District reviews 2025–26 budget, proposes bus and technology propositions and $100,000 facilities work

The PITTSFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education held a public budget hearing May 13 to review its proposed 2025–26 budget, state aid estimates, tax‑cap calculations and several voter propositions, district leaders said.

Superintendent Michael Pero said the hearing’s purpose was “to provide a summary, an overview of our budget guidelines, a summary of the three‑part budget, which is required by law, to review all revenue sources including the state aid forecast and projected tax levy increase.” He told the board that the numbers used in the presentation reflected the governor’s executive run of the state budget and a subsequent legislative run that produced only small changes.

The district’s finance team, led in presentations by Mike Vespey, assistant superintendent for business (presenting the state aid and revenue detail), and Terry Hasler, presented the three‑part budget required by New York State: program, administrative and capital. Vespey said foundation aid rose in the final state budget and the district’s executive run showed a foundation‑aid increase of about $558,000. Hasler said the district expects to use roughly $600,000 in reserves to balance the budget this year and plans to use the TRS reserve beginning in 2026 to help control costs.

Why it matters: board leaders said the district faces a substantial jump in health‑insurance costs that is the single largest driver of budget pressure; they said that combined with limited tax‑cap room and the end of federal COVID funds requires “tightened” budgeting and continued advocacy for state aid.

Key decisions and propositions discussed

- Tax cap and levy: presenters displayed the tax‑cap limit calculation and the inflation factor the state requires. The district’s tax‑cap calculation shown during the hearing was 2.34 percent; officials said a simple rollover budget would require increases above that level and that long‑term planning remains necessary. Hasler told the board the district’s tax‑cap projections for the next three to four years are “hovering around that 2% range.”

- Contingent budget: Hasler explained that if voters reject the proposed budget and the district must adopt a contingent budget, New York State rules would require a 0 percent tax‑levy increase, which the district estimates would reduce the proposed budget by about $2.7 million.

- Use of reserves: presenters outlined a plan to use district reserves selectively this year to close gaps and preserve programs, noting that whatever is drawn down this year will not automatically be available in future years.

- Major cost drivers: health insurance was cited repeatedly as the biggest single increase in the budget; Vespey and Hasler said salary and benefit cost pressures, vehicle and technology replacement, infrastructure work and increased contracting for bus drivers also contributed.

- Voter propositions: the hearing described three ballot propositions to appear on the May 20 vote: (1) authorization to purchase up to 14 buses (transportation aid would return to a bus reserve to fund future purchases); (2) a technology/one‑to‑one device reserve; and (3) a $100,000 capital outlay project restricted to a single school (described as HVAC work at Thornhill Elementary in the presentation), which would generate building aid and help seed future projects.

- Other budget items: the presentation included a five‑year lookback at the three‑part budget, a discussion of BOCES service shifts (about $200,000 moved from contractual to BOCES services in technology to maximize BOCES aid), and a summary of local revenue increases (including higher projected interest earnings tied to a continuing relationship with investment manager “3 Plus 1”).

Board motions taken during the meeting

The board approved multiple routine and budget‑related motions (most recorded in the meeting as “all in favor” with no opposition). Actions taken included: acceptance of the treasurer’s report; acceptance of the third‑quarter extra‑classroom activities report; settlement of a tax certiorari for Country Club of Rochester; approval of several budget transfers (including health insurance and technology upgrades); acceptance of a budget transfer request for the digitization of business office records; approval of multiple capital project phase‑2 commissioning and testing contracts (including a $53,500 commissioning services resolution, a $55,000 testing services resolution, and a $25,000 asbestos air‑monitoring resolution); SEQRA/SEQRA‑related (listed as “SECRA” in the record) action and approval of a $100,000 facilities improvement project for HVAC work at Thornhill Elementary; and acceptance of professional service RFPs, including continuing the district’s financial services relationship with 3 Plus 1, appointment of Harris Beach as bond counsel, and approval of two firms for general legal services (Bonar, Shelneck & King and Ferrera Forrenza P.C.). The consent agenda, which contained additional routine bid awards and the special‑education committee recommendations, was approved without opposition.

No formal objections to the budget presentation were recorded in the meeting transcript; presenters answered questions from board members about reserves, planned reductions, and long‑range financial planning. Vespey and Hasler repeatedly emphasized the district’s goal to “maintain all programs for students” while keeping the proposed levy within the tax cap.

Ending note: officials reminded the public that the budget vote and propositions would be held May 20 at Calkins Road Middle School and urged voters to review the budget notice the district will mail and submit if they intend to vote. The board did not take a final adoption vote on the budget during the hearing; that step is scheduled for the May 20 vote.