Niagara Falls district proposes $202.8 million budget with no tax-levy increase

The Niagara Falls City School District presented its proposed 2025–26 budget of $202,840,136 at a public hearing May 8, saying the plan would keep the district's tax levy unchanged while preserving staff and programs.

Superintendent Mark Lohrey told the board and the public the budget includes no reduction in staff or programs and recommended it for passage, saying district leadership sought to "expand instructional programming for all students with no increase to the tax levy." Becky and Julie, district finance staff, detailed revenues and expenses during the hearing.

The proposed budget represents a 6.2% increase over 2024–25, driven largely by the first-year debt service payment tied to the district's capital project (noted in presentations as the Abofa capital project) and contractual salary and benefit increases. Finance staff said total state aid is projected at roughly $164 million (about 81% of revenues), local revenues about $29.5 million (14.5%), with the remaining gap covered by reserves and use of fund balance.

Becky said the tax levy in the plan would remain at $25,828,989. Staff noted the budget includes a roughly $3.9 million debt-service charge related to the capital project; excluding that, the year-over-year budget increase would be closer to 4.18%, more in line with the district's inflation measures. The presenters also flagged a projected increase of about $3.3 million in salaries and wages (contractual raises) and $1.6 million in health-care expenses.

Officials explained contingency consequences if voters reject the budget: state rules would force elimination of certain student supplies and restrict transportation and community use of facilities, producing an estimated reduction of about $232,500 from the proposed number. The superintendent noted the tax levy would remain unchanged under a contingent budget.

Board members and staff encouraged voters to review the available yellow budget book (also posted online) and to vote on May 20 at city polling sites from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Julie and Becky invited questions and offered contact information for more detail. Superintendent Lohrey said enrollment- and aid-related data are still being finalized and that small changes from state runs were expected but would not alter the overall plan.

The hearing did not include a board vote on the budget; the district will place the proposed budget before voters on May 20.