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Sachem budget draft shows $12.4 million shortfall on mandated costs; board weighs capital projects and potential offsets
Summary
Business officials presented a draft 2025‑26 budget showing a $12.4 million gap between projected revenues ($366 million) and required operating costs ($379 million), and a separate $4–4.5 million of non‑mandated items. Officials described options including using reserves, altering transportation policies, and targeting capital transfers.
District business officials told the board on Feb. 5 that a working draft of the 2025–26 general fund budget shows a material shortfall for required and mandated costs and that the board must decide which non‑mandated services to restore, fund with reserves, or remove.
The numbers at a glance
Michelle Sarakis (business official) presented a revenue summary showing proposed revenues of about $366,000,000 and budgeted appropriations of roughly $379,000,000, leaving an approximately $12,400,000 gap if the board limited the budget to required and mandated items only. That figure rose toward $16,000,000 when the presentation added optional programs such as athletics, clubs and field trips. The business office told the board it expects about $11,000,000 in unappropriated fund balance when the current fiscal year closes (the presentation noted that figure is subject to final accounting and a number of near‑term adjustments).
Major drivers and new items
Officials flagged several drivers of the increase: rising retirement costs (Teacher Retirement System and Employees’ Retirement System rates), sharply higher Medicare Part B reimbursements for…
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