Gates Chili district proposes 4.85% budget increase, three propositions including $2.4M bus purchase

Assistant Superintendent for Business Mitch Ball told the Gates Chili Central School District public budget hearing that the district is proposing a $139.8 million budget for 2025-26, a 4.85% increase over the current year, and will place three propositions before voters on May 20: the annual expenditure budget, a $2.4 million bus purchase, and creation of a capital reserve for future bus purchases.

Ball said the budget is intended to “maintain our current programming and staffing,” add academic intervention services and student behavioral supports, and incorporate new security tools and transportation costs. He told the audience the district used a modified zero-based budgeting process and sought administrative efficiencies to shift savings into classroom and student supports.

The budget presentation identified several large cost drivers: salaries and benefits (about 66 cents of every dollar), increased employer retirement-system costs, higher projected operations and maintenance spending, pupil services and transportation. Ball said those buckets alone account for about $5.4 million of the overall increase; instructional-cost growth was described as…