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Williamsville budget work session trims deficit to $320,000; board to revisit March 25
Summary
Assistant Superintendent for Finance Mike Kelly told the Williamsville Central School District Board of Education on March 11 that preliminary work on the 2025–26 budget has closed much of the gap, leaving a working deficit of $320,000.
Assistant Superintendent for Finance Mike Kelly told the Williamsville Central School District Board of Education on March 11 that preliminary work on the 2025–26 budget has closed much of the gap, leaving a working deficit of $320,000.
Kelly said the working budget totals $243,576,518, an increase of about 4.72% over the current year. Projected revenues in the working budget equal $243,256,518, producing the $320,000 shortfall. “The plan is to present a balanced budget at the March 25 workshop meeting,” Kelly said.
Where the savings came from: Kelly credited roughly $640,000 in net savings tied to retirements and about $350,000 in transportation cost reductions that resulted from the board’s decision to delay a change in school start times. The presentation also incorporated revenue changes: fund balance use of $3,000,000 (unchanged from the current year), a $224,700 increase in sales‑tax estimates and a $225,000 increase in interest revenue based on current yields. New York State aid was projected to increase by $7,300,000.
Tax levy: The presentation listed a tax levy calculation with a proposed property tax levy of $148,845,213 (a 3.29% increase), the assistant superintendent said.
Board follow up: Kelly and district leaders warned that planned increases for special education staffing and negotiated salary steps could raise costs; administrators said they are preparing FTE recommendations and cost estimates to bring to the March 25 session. Board members asked clarifying questions on how retirement savings were calculated and whether interest revenue projections might change.
Procedural actions: The board recessed the regular meeting and convened the budget work session by motion; the recess and the later adjournment of the budget session were approved unanimously.
Ending: Kelly said work on the rates and final revenues will continue and that further adjustments will be presented at the March 25 workshop as the district refines staffing and special education cost projections.
