Penfield proposes $128.6 million 2025-26 budget; voters to decide May 20 on operating budget and 11-bus purchase

Penfield Central School District officials presented a proposed $128,600,000 2025-26 budget that would increase the tax levy by 3.33% and go to voters on May 20, the district said. The budget would be funded primarily by the real property levy (about 57%) and New York State education aid (about 36%), with other revenue covering the remainder.

At a budget hearing, Dr. Potter, a presenter for the district, and Dr. Driffill, a district presenter, explained the drivers behind the increase: enrollment growth, new staff hires, rising employee benefit costs and capital projects including a new transportation and facilities site. The district said enrollment has risen from 4,614 to a projected 4,711 students and that Penfield is one of roughly 40 New York districts with growth at this scale.

The proposal would raise next year’s total spending from $119,600,000 this year to $128,600,000, an increase of roughly 7.5%. Personnel costs — wages and benefits — account for about 75% of the district’s spending. Since 2021 the district said it has added 59 positions overall; in the current year it added 11 full-time equivalents that were not in the prior budget (three teachers, three directors, four teacher aides and one coordinator). The district plans to add roughly five to six further positions for 2025-26, including two elementary special-education teachers, one teacher aide and two to three…