Webster CSD holds public budget hearing as board readies May 20 vote; $3 million in reserves, bus purchases and energy projects explained

Webster Central School District opened a public budget hearing May 13 as the board prepared for the May 20 budget vote and school board election.

District business official Brian Freeman said the proposed 2025–26 spending plan would increase overall spending by 4.39% and rely in part on $3,000,000 in reserves to close the gap. He told the board and public the state’s enacted budget provided a 2% increase in foundation aid rather than the 3% the district had hoped for, and that several state items relevant to schools remain unspecified.

The 30‑minute public presentation summarized revenues, expenditures and the district’s contingency rules. Freeman said, “You can’t predict the unpredictable, but you can prepare for it,” and walked through the three‑part budget breakdown the state requires: administrative (7.4%), program (78.7%) and capital (13.9%). He said the district’s proposed capital measures are structured to earn building aid in coming years.

Why it matters: voters will decide the district’s tax levy and several capital propositions on May 20; if voters reject the budget, the board may revise it or adopt a contingent budget with no increase in the tax levy and mandated cuts to certain expense lines.

Key figures and propositions reviewed

- Reserves: Freeman said the board plans to use $3,000,000 in reserves to help balance the budget. He noted Webster’s total fund balance (including reserves) was about 30.32% of operating expenses.

- State aid: The enacted state budget provides a 2% increase in foundation aid; Freeman said that left the district short of its planning assumption of a 3% increase. He described some remaining state uncertainties, including final details on universal free school meals and expanded UPK funding.

- Capital outlay and transfer projects: The district presented a routine $100,000 capital outlay project to replace a stage elevator and convert cafetorium lighting to LEDs at an elementary building (the project will be submitted to the state for aid). The board also proposed a $500,000 transfer to a capital project oriented to energy savings and facility upgrades (gym lighting, electrical panel replacements, and two rooftop HVAC units). Freeman said that transfer is “budget neutral” and should generate roughly 70% building aid in a future year, producing an estimated $350,000 in aid while not increasing the current tax levy.

- Transportation propositions: Voters will see a proposition to purchase 10 diesel school buses at $1,825,000 (first payments in the 2026–27 fiscal year) and a separate proposition to buy one electric international bus at $525,000. Freeman said buses are financed over eight years and are eligible for transportation aid at about 68%; the district plans to surplus older vehicles when new buses arrive. He emphasized the state’s zero‑emission bus mandate has an amended waiver process and that the district is buying now to maintain fleet flexibility.

Contingent budget and community impact

Freeman reviewed the district’s contingent‑budget rules: if a proposed budget is defeated and the board cannot pass a revised budget, state rules require the board to adopt a contingent budget with no increase in the tax levy and with specified cuts. Freeman said districts must preserve an administrative‑to‑program percentage ratio and remove certain discretionary lines (for example, some equipment and facilities‑use subsidies) when moving to a contingency plan. He warned the community that a contingent budget could increase fees for facility rentals and change how community groups use district buildings.

Board and community reaction

Board members asked questions about UPK funding, how the reserve drawdown affects long‑term capacity and whether the district can make up the difference between the 2% and the expected 3% state aid through interest revenue, facility rentals or other offsets. Freeman said the dollar difference between a 2% and 3% state aid outcome would be a few hundred thousand dollars and that the district anticipates offsetting some of that amount through earnings and other revenues.

What happens next

The board opened and closed the public budget hearing at the May 13 meeting. The district will publish budget materials online; voters will decide the budget and propositions at the May 20 vote. If the budget is defeated, the board may attempt a second vote or adopt a contingent budget under state rules.

Sources: presentation by Brian Freeman to the Webster Central School District Board of Education and public Q&A at the May 13 regular meeting.