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Beekmantown district projects $1.37 million shortfall as state aid outlook improves; electric-bus study planned
Summary
District presenters said governor's proposed changes to the school funding formula raise potential foundation aid, trimming a previous deficit estimate to about $1,370,000. The district will pursue a free NYSERDA fleet study to assess costs of a potential electric-bus transition and is planning to buy four buses next year.
Beekmantown Central School District budget presenters told the board that changes in the governor's proposed 2025'26 state budget increased the district's potential foundation aid and reduced an earlier projected shortfall, but the district still projects a deficit of about $1,370,000.
The presenter, Justin Riddick, said two formula changes in the governor's proposal ' replacing older census-based poverty measures with Small Area Income and Poverty estimates (SAIPE) and substituting "economically disadvantaged" for free-and-reduced-price lunch data ' pushed the district's estimated foundation aid higher. "It actually was changed from a 2.7% increase to a 4.72% increase. So that equates to about $400,000 more than what we thought we were getting," Riddick said.
Why it matters: the $400,000 improvement lowered the district's earlier deficit estimate but did not eliminate it. Riddick told the board his team has trimmed roughly $1 million from an earlier $2.3 million gap after entering newly received figures.
Major budget numbers and assumptions presented - Projected expenditures for 2025'26: $58.5 million (presenter stated). - Projected revenues shown at about $57.01 million; projected deficit approximately $1,370,000.00 (quote from presenter). - Tax-levy limit estimate moved from 3.71% in January to about 3.8% as more numbers arrived. - Health insurance increase: the district is budgeting a 10% increase as a placeholder until final rates are received. - Retirement systems (TRS and ERS) figures have been received and incorporated in updated projections. - Bus purchases: the district plans to purchase four buses next year, including one with a lift, which raises costs.
Electric-bus mandate and fleet study Riddick told the board that the governor described the state's electric-bus procurement timeline as an "aspirational" goal that "may need to be adjusted," acknowledging the budget and infrastructure challenges districts face. The presenter said the district has contacted the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for a free fleet study to assess current infrastructure and the cost and site needs for a potential transition to electric buses. "This is a free service for us because of our level of need," Riddick said, adding he has a conference call with NYSERDA scheduled the following Friday.
Board process and next steps Riddick said the district has completed more than half of a line-by-line budget review and plans to continue during February break to firm up requests from building leaders for additional positions and software. He asked the board whether it would like a dedicated March budget workshop; the board agreed to schedule a second March meeting for a line-by-line review if needed.
Quotes and attributions in this story come from meeting presenters and board discussion as recorded in the meeting transcript. The article does not infer actions or outcomes beyond the statements and numeric projections presented to the board.
Ending District staff said they will continue refining budget line items, incorporate final health insurance and retirement figures when available, and return to the board with updated numbers and a proposed workshop date in March.
