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West Seneca presents second draft 2025-26 budget; voters to consider budget, buses and auditorium on May 20
Summary
District staff presented updated budget numbers including a 2.75% levy increase, a reduced planned use of fund balance and three propositions for voters: the school budget, bus purchases and an $8.5 million auditorium infrastructure plan. The board approved a personnel item (3a) 7-0 during the meeting.
District staff presented a second draft of the West Seneca Central School District—s 2025-26 budget at the March 25 work session and told trustees the board is expected to adopt a final budget on April 8 and hold the public budget vote on May 20.
The district is proposing a tax levy increase of 2.75 percent; the actual tax rate change for individual homeowners will depend on town assessment rolls and equalization rates, which the district said will be clearer in April. District staff said they are planning conservatively because they do not expect the New York State budget to be finalized before the April board meeting.
Staff said the second draft reduced the projected reliance on fund balance from an $8.3 million allocation to $5.5 million, which the presentation noted equals roughly 3.31 percent of appropriations against a roughly $162 million budget. The district said it historically budgets about 2 percent of appropriations from fund balance and that the trend is moving toward a smaller use of reserves.
Special-education spending was a major focus. Staff reported a combined set-aside of $1.25 million: $500,000 in a district line for special-education tuition outside BOCES and $750,000 held in reserves related to BOCES placements. The presentation said in-district special-education programming has expanded because placement capacity through BOCES is limited.
Three propositions will be on the May ballot alongside the budget: the overall school district budget, a bus purchase proposition to spend existing bus-reserve funds (district staff said the total proposed expenditure for additional and replacement buses would be just over $1 million) and a planned $8.5 million auditorium infrastructure proposition for lighting, rigging and sound upgrades at the district—s middle and high school auditoriums.
Staff warned that bus pricing and availability are volatile; manufacturers notified the district that tariffs and supply constraints could raise chassis prices as much as 25 percent, and staff said they will change ballot language to request an amount rather than specify types or sizes of buses to retain procurement flexibility.
District staff highlighted a $100,000 capital outlay project for replacement exterior doors at Northwood Elementary. The district expects to receive 76 percent state aid on that work. Staff also noted an updated Teachers' Retirement System contribution estimate of 9.59 percent for budgeting purposes.
On personnel, the board approved agenda item 3a by voice vote: the motion passed 7-0. The meeting record shows no board member opposed and no abstentions.
Superintendent and trustees discussed outreach to voters and the timing of budget assessments. Trustees also expressed support for the auditorium investment, noting the facilities are in regular curricular and community use and that equipment rentals have been increasingly expensive.
Next steps: district staff will bring a final draft budget to the April 8 board meeting for adoption and will continue to refine numbers as state aid information and town assessments become available.
