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Kenmore-Tonawanda board adopts $197.9 million 2025-26 budget, approves 2.03% tax levy increase
Summary
The Kenmore-Tonawanda Board of Education unanimously adopted a $197,904,919 budget for 2025-26, approving a 2.03% tax levy increase and noting lingering state budget uncertainty.
The Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District Board of Education on April 8 adopted a $197,904,919 budget for the 2025-26 school year and approved a 2.03% tax levy increase.
The budget adoption, moved by Trustee Karen and seconded by Trustee Fred, carried unanimously following a presentation of the proposed budget by Nicole, who summarized revenue and expenditure assumptions and the district's planning choices. Nicole said the proposed budget represents a $6,226,316 increase, or 3.25%, over the adopted 2024-25 budget and that the recommended levy increase is 2.03 percent.
The education chief emphasized the district reduced its appropriated fund balance from about $9 million to just over $7 million since her arrival and said cuts were made primarily in expenditures — including BOCES expenses, equipment and textbooks — rather than by increasing revenue. She said instruction and employee benefits continue to account for the majority of spending.
The presentation included an estimate of the tax impact: an increase of $9.76 per $100,000 of full market value, which Nicole said would equal about $117.14 annually under the district's current assumptions. She cautioned the final tax rate depends on July assessment adjustments and noted the comptroller-based inflation factor and capital exclusions that affect the levy limit calculation.
Board members and district officials also discussed the district's reliance on property taxes (roughly half of revenue) and incremental increases in state and federal aid. Assistant Superintendent Morasco and other presenters noted a $300,000 expected increase in state aid tied to a current-year BOCES project that will affect next year's aid timing.
Board President Shamara and Superintendent Samano both praised the district's collaborative budget process, and trustees acknowledged that the board might need to revisit the budget if the New York State budget passes differently than currently projected.
The board will present the budget at the district budget hearing on May 13 and hold the budget vote May 20, as the presenters noted the adoption tonight was the board's formal step to place the budget before voters.
Ending: The board adopted the budget by unanimous vote. District officials said they will update the community if the state budget changes aid assumptions.
