Ballston Spa unveils draft 2025-26 budget; plans retirements, program trims and special-education expansions

Ballston Spa Central School District officials presented a draft 2025–26 budget at the April 2 Board of Education meeting and described a mix of staffing retirements, program reallocations and in‑house service changes intended to close a deficit without layoffs.

District business official Mr. Sirianni, who led the numerical portion of the presentation, described the employee‑benefits section as among the district’s largest costs and noted shifts in retirement and insurance rates. “The TRS rate … is 9.59% for next year, which is a 5.1% decrease,” Mr. Sirianni said, and he reported that ERS employer costs “went up quite a bit… to 15.5%.” He also said health‑insurance renewals ranged “between 11–15%,” and that the district realized savings after about 200 participants enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan.

Why it matters: state aid and local tax limits will shape the district’s final ask to voters in May. Superintendent Dr. Duca said the draft is built on a baseline state aid assumption of 2% and that final state aid numbers, expected within 10–14 days of the meeting, could change the proposal.

Key budget drivers and how…