Homer Central approves 2025-26 spending plan; board signals preliminary levy no higher than 3.9%

The Homer Central School District Board of Education on Thursday approved the 2025-26 district budget resolution and, after a lengthy budget presentation and debate, indicated it will publish a tax-levy estimate “no more than 3.9%” while relying in part on district reserves to cover a remaining gap.

The vote to approve the district’s spending plan passed during the meeting following a presentation on revenues and expenditures from Michael Turk, superintendent. Turk said the proposed spending total is about $50,679,000 and that the district faces a gap of approximately $1,100,000 driven in large part by health insurance costs that rose roughly 13%, “a number just shy of $900,000,” he said.

Turk told the board the budget assumes partial state aid related to the district’s building project this year and that full aid will be sought in 2025-26 when the project is expected to be completed. He recommended conservative budgeting given uncertainty over when project-related aid will be realized. The district also plans to use existing…