North Syracuse board adopts $224 million 2025-26 budget within tax cap; 38 positions eliminated, three layoffs reported

The North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved a $224,000,000 budget for the 2025–26 school year that district officials said remains within the state tax levy cap and includes reductions the district said were necessary after federal COVID-era funding ended.

Don, the district’s lead budget presenter, told the board the budget represents a multi-month process and is aligned with the district’s goals on graduation, reading proficiency and emotional competency. He said the plan reflects a 5.59% overall increase driven largely by building aid for capital projects; excluding building aid, the district estimated an approximate 3.4% increase in operating costs.

The budget assumes a tax levy increase of roughly 2.91%, which the district said keeps it under the state tax cap formula. Don described the district’s revenue mix as heavily dependent on the tax levy and state aid and warned that a not-final New York state budget could change the district’s state aid projection.

To balance the plan, officials said the district eliminated about 38 positions and laid off three employees; most affected positions will be absorbed into openings created by retirements, the district said. The budget also uses $2,000,000 from reserves and relies on approximately $10,000,000 in federal grant funding that district staff have not assumed will be lost for 2025–26.

District officials reviewed capital and operating highlights: the district plans to replace 12 buses — including two wheelchair-lift, air-conditioned vehicles — add eight 65-passenger gasoline buses and modify two buses for larger fuel tanks and cargo storage. District staff estimated the bus purchases would add about 0.13% to the tax impact or roughly $2.41 on a $100,000 full-value home before STAR.

Officials also said Assemblyman Al Sturpi provided initial funding and additional support bringing the state allocation for the planned Aquatic Center to $5,000,000, and that $3,000,000 of the total requires a voter authorization on the district’s May ballot before the funds can be used for the pool project. The district said that use of the allocation would not increase taxpayers’ bills beyond the adopted levy.

Board members thanked the district’s administrative team for the months-long budget process. Don and Dr. Ward fielded board questions and presented multiple community budget hearings and voting logistics: in-person and absentee voting locations at the district office and Michael J. Braggin Stadium and several public forums scheduled in late April and May.

During the meeting the board moved to adopt the budget; the motion was presented by Crabtree and seconded by Paul, and the board completed a roll-call vote to approve the plan.

District officials said they will return to the board if state aid changes materially or if other assumptions used to balance the budget require additional board action.