North Syracuse proposes $224 million budget, three voter propositions including pool and buses

North Syracuse Central School District officials on Wednesday presented a proposed $224 million budget for the 2025–26 school year and announced three propositions that will appear on next week’s ballot, district staff said.

Don Keegan, staff member, told the budget hearing the proposed spending plan is about $224,000,000, an increase of roughly $11,800,000, or 5.59 percent, over the current year and that the district’s tax levy would rise 2.91 percent under the proposal.

The budget presentation emphasized the district’s revenue mix and pressures. “We receive about $10,000,000 of federal funding,” Keegan said, and added that “this budget does not contemplate the loss of any of that federal funding.” He also said the district is watching inflation, enrollment-driven state aid declines and the rising debt service tied to capital projects.

Keegan and other speakers outlined three propositions that will go before voters: a transportation and vehicles proposition (including replacement buses and maintenance vehicles), a capital proposition approving the use of $3,000,000 in grant funds to supplement previously secured pool grants, and a library proposition for voters in the town of Salina.

On transportation, Keegan said the district plans to buy 12 buses: two 65‑passenger buses equipped for special‑needs students (wheelchair access and air conditioning) and eight traditional 65‑passenger gasoline buses, plus additional maintenance and operations vehicles. He described two buses with larger fuel tanks and under‑floor luggage compartments as a one‑year experiment to support longer field trips. “North Syracuse is not buying any electric buses for next year,” Keegan said, adding that the district has applied for NYSERDA and EPA grants and will consider electric buses in future purchases once state guidance is clearer.

Regarding the aquatics facility at the senior high school, Keegan said the district has secured $2,000,000 in grant funding from Assemblyman Al Sturpi and that attorneys advised the district it must secure voter approval to use an additional $3,000,000 in grant money. Keegan described the pool project as substantially grant funded and said the proposition to allow use of the extra grant funds would have no tax impact if approved.

The district also will include a library proposition for residents in the town of Salina; Keegan said the library is seeking a modest increase of about $14,000 (approximately 2.8 percent) to its budget.

Keegan said the district has used reserves to help balance the budget this year, noting the fund balance is projected at about 4.47 percent next year and that some reserves are being drawn down (from about $30,000,000 to $26,000,000) to subsidize capital projects. He described those reserves as targeted to specific liabilities, including tax‑assessment protest settlements and workers’ compensation obligations.

Keegan said the district eliminated 38 positions that had been funded by federal COVID relief (ARP and CRRSA) and that most of those reductions occurred through retirements and attrition; he said only three employees lost jobs as a result of the reductions.

Speakers stressed that the district’s largest operating costs are people: salaries and benefits drive the budget, and special‑education needs are increasing. Keegan noted the district’s debt service is the single biggest cost increase this year because of capital projects, and that the state provides building aid that reduces the local taxpayer share. He also described BOCES cooperative services as a way the district provides career and technical programs and other shared services.

During public questions, student Alicia Wallace asked whether the district will build another high school as the population grows. District officials said the board has commissioned a utilization study that could inform future building configuration; the consultant is scheduled to present the study process at the June 2 board meeting.

The budget hearing closed with reminders about the election: district residents north of Route 41 will vote at Michael J. Bragman Stadium, residents south of Route 41 at the district administrative offices, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. District clerk Jill Herrera was offered as a contact for registration questions.

No formal votes or motions were recorded at the hearing; the presentation was informational and the budget and propositions will be decided by voter ballot at the upcoming election.