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District projects 2.73% levy cap, sees ~9% foundation-aid increase in governor’s proposal
Summary
At the Feb. 27 meeting the district’s business staff outlined revenue assumptions for the 2025–26 budget: a 2.73% levy-cap calculation, a projected ~9% increase in foundation aid under the governor’s proposal, a January STAR payment of roughly $5 million and federal program revenues of about $1.6 million.
District business staff presented the West Irondequoit Central School District’s preliminary revenue outlook for the 2025–26 budget at the Feb. 27 board meeting, emphasizing that final state action in April will determine some figures.
Staff described the tax levy cap calculation for the coming year as 2.73, a value driven primarily by the consumer-price index component (capped at 2%) plus a growth factor tied to assessed-value changes and pilot property roll-backs. Staff reported a one-time STAR reimbursement of just over $5,000,000 received in January and noted a 14% timing-driven increase in healthcare costs that affected January expenditures.
On state aid, staff said the governor’s executive budget proposes a significant increase in foundation aid — roughly a 9% bump for the district — driven by an update to the poverty inputs used in the state formula (moving from 2000-era data to 2023 small-area income/poverty estimates). Business staff noted expense-driven aid categories (BOCES aid, transportation aid, textbook and hardware aid, excess cost special-education aid and building aid) as additional revenue sources that are estimated from prior-year spending.
Federal program revenues for the current year were described as roughly $1.6 million, allocated primarily to staff and services for Title I (economic disadvantage), Title II (professional development), Title III (English-language learners), Title IV (well-rounded education, mental health and technology), and IDEA special-education funding. Staff also described a working estimate of a $600,000 interfund transfer from the district’s debt-service fund to bridge timing differences between project expenditures and state building aid.
Business staff emphasized that the numbers presented are preliminary and that the district will refine revenue assumptions after the state budget is finalized in April. Board members used the presentation to confirm planning assumptions for the upcoming budget development cycle.
