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District staff previews 'general support' section of 2025-26 budget; utilities and security highlighted
Summary
At the March 5 Board of Education meeting district staff presented the general support portion of the 2025-26 budget, citing a proposed 2.6% increase overall and specific pressures from utilities, liability insurance and a planned rise in contracted building security costs.
District staff reviewed the general support section of the Ballston Spa Central School District’s 2025-26 budget at the March 5 board meeting, reporting a modest overall increase while flagging several areas of uncertainty that could affect final numbers.
A district presenter identified three main components of general support — central offices, facilities and district services — and said the section shows a 2.6% increase overall: “General support…showing a small increase 2.6%, which is, as you know, less than inflation,” the presenter said. Facilities spending includes operations (building operations and utilities), maintenance (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) and building security. The presenter advised the board that the district’s contract for security officers with the sheriff’s department is expected to rise “quite a bit” next year after remaining flat for several years.
Utilities were cited as a significant driver of the operations increase. The presenter said the budget assumes a 4.7% increase in utilities but noted outside estimates range higher: consultants in the BOCES consortium suggested budgeting anywhere from 5% to 15%. “We’re going on a low-below end here. We’re going to hope for a warm winter next year,” the presenter said, adding that a warm winter could change heating costs by “$3,400,000.”
District services included IT and liability insurance. The presenter warned that liability insurance premiums have risen substantially and that the district anticipates another large increase in premiums. On technology, he described increased cybersecurity work and the district’s reliance on third-party vendors, referencing recent industry incidents: “Everybody is aware of the big…PowerSchool that was hacked…Luckily it did not involve our system,” he said, and noted New York’s Education Law 2‑d, which places requirements on vendors used by school districts.
The presenter said instruction — the largest portion of the overall budget — will be discussed in subsequent meetings and noted that some vendor pricing (for BOCES services) had not yet been received, limiting the district’s ability to finalize certain instruction-line items. He reminded the board of upcoming dates: the next regular meeting on March 19, nominating petitions due in April (noting an April 21 due date this cycle), a public hearing on the proposed budget on May 7, and the budget vote on May 20.
Board members did not take any budget votes at the March 5 meeting; staff said more detailed budget sections (instruction and benefits) will be presented at future meetings.
