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Sweet Home board adopts $105.6 million 2025-26 budget; voters to decide May 20
Summary
The Sweet Home Central School District board approved the proposed 2025-26 spending plan and a consent agenda that puts the $105,576,012 budget and related propositions on the May 20 ballot. The plan holds the tax levy increase to 0.4% and uses $350,000 in reserves while noting state-aid uncertainty.
The Sweet Home Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a proposed $105,576,012 budget for the 2025-26 school year and approved a consent agenda that sends the spending plan and related propositions to the district ballot on May 20.
Board members voted to approve the consent agenda — items A through L on the meeting docket — by voice vote; the measure passed with all members present saying "aye." The adopted budget carries a 0.4% tax levy increase that the district estimates will result in a $7 annual increase for an Amherst homeowner with a $250,000 assessment and a $9 increase for a comparable Tonawanda homeowner under the district's calculations.
The board's budget presentation detailed $105,576,012 in estimated revenues and matched expenditures, a year-to-year increase the administration described as roughly 5.1%. Administration staff said the revenue projection includes an estimated tax levy of $54,486,662, projected sales-tax receipts, and $350,000 in planned reserve use to close the budget gap.
"We are presenting a balanced budget this evening," Mr. Feldman, who presented the budget slides, said during the meeting. Superintendent Dr. Genestri told the board the district remained uncertain about final state aid because New York had not passed a final state budget; staff said they had used conservative estimates for foundation aid and expense-driven aids.
District officials told the board the budget includes increased expense lines for contractually obligated salary increases, special-education costs (including out-of-district placements), transportation and bus purchases, and employee benefits. The presentation listed several major expenditure increases including roughly $1.4 million for salary increases across units, approximately $1.4 million for special-education costs, and increased contracted transportation of about $500,000. Officials also noted a new UPK integrated class-setting grant expected to bring about $660,000 in revenue.
Because the adopted levy stays within the state tax-cap calculation the board used, the administration said the final budget will require a simple majority of votes in the district's May 20 referendum to pass. The board also approved the district's property tax report card for filing with the State Controller's Office and scheduled the district public hearing on the proposed budget for May 6.
Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve consent agenda items A through L, including adoption of the proposed 2025-26 budget ($105,576,012) and submission of the budget and propositions to the May 20 district vote. Mover/Second: not specified in the public record. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 7, no 0, abstain 0.
The budget vote is accompanied on the May 20 ballot by a second proposition to elect two members to the board of education. Administrative staff reminded voters that the budget vote and board election will be held May 20 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Virgil's; the administration said community events including a food sale and student artwork will accompany the vote.
Board members and staff repeatedly cautioned that federal and state funding levels could change over the summer and said the district would continue to monitor registration and transfers that could affect staffing and cost projections. The administration said it expects to update the board if enrollment shifts or final state aid alters revenue assumptions.
