West Irondequoit board adopts $100.6 million budget; sets May 20 voter referendum

The West Irondequoit Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a proposed $100,611,335 budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year and to present that budget, with an anticipated tax levy of $45,666,465, to district voters on May 20, 2025.

Board members approved the measure 7–0 after a presentation summarizing revenue assumptions, enrollment-driven staffing, and planned capital work. The presentation noted a 9.6% increase in state foundation aid as the primary new revenue source, and explained that any later changes in state aid would reduce the district’s reliance on fund balance rather than increase spending.

The district’s business staff told the board the proposed levy is within the state’s tax-cap formula and that the district anticipates receiving remaining tax-collection transfers from Monroe County in April. The presentation said the increase in foundation aid reflects a change in the state formula’s small-area income and poverty estimate, which raised the district’s calculated poverty rate and increased aid by roughly $3 million compared with prior estimates.

School officials outlined budget priorities carried into the 2025–26 plan: balancing enrollment changes to preserve class sizes, covering special-education mandates, restoring previously reduced programs and staff, and maintaining a five-year fiscal outlook. The budget package also carries a $100,000 capital outlay exclusion project to renovate a middle-school elevator; the administration said that project uses a recurring capital-outlay provision to preserve building infrastructure while recapturing a large share of the cost the following year.

During the public exchange, board members praised staff for producing a clear and approachable budget presentation and for answering follow-up questions as the district prepared the proposal. Several board members said they were glad the board could present a tax-cap–compliant budget while preserving programming and adding some staff supports described in the presentation.

The adopted budget packet includes the required property tax report card and will be the document presented to voters at the May 20 referendum. Voters will decide whether to approve the spending plan as presented; if final state aid differs from the governor’s proposed numbers the administration said the district would use any additional aid to reduce reliance on fund balance rather than increase the maximum spending amount approved by voters.

Votes at a glance - Adopt proposed 2025–26 budget and approve property tax report card for voter referendum (presented expenditures: $100,611,335; proposed tax levy: $45,666,465) — Outcome: approved, vote 7–0. - Related procedural and operational motions carried by unanimous votes earlier in the meeting (minutes approvals; financial statements/treasurer’s report accepted; personnel agenda approved; waiver of second reading for spring coaching stipends; approval of spring coaching stipends; facility use fee schedule update; SEQRA/regular maintenance resolution for elevator renovation; 457 adoption; multiple scholarship approvals; therapy dog approval): all motions passed 7–0 as recorded in the minutes.

What happens next The board set the district’s budget for presentation to voters on May 20, 2025. If the final state budget produces different aid numbers from the governor’s proposal used in the presentation, the administration said it will apply any additional aid to reduce use of reserves rather than increase the expenditure limit submitted to voters.