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Yorktown officials say governor’s proposal would add about $2.5 million in foundation aid; tax‑cap calculation set at 2.69%
Summary
The district’s business office reported the governor’s proposed state budget would increase Yorktown’s foundation aid by about $2.5 million under revised formula inputs and that the district’s current tax‑cap calculation allows a 2.69% levy increase; administrators said they intend to keep increases below the cap.
Yorktown Central School District administrators told the Board of Education on Feb. 10 that the governor’s proposed 2025 state budget would increase the district’s foundation aid by roughly $2.5 million because the proposed formula uses more current data (for example, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, SAIPE) rather than free‑and‑reduced‑price‑meal counts.
Assistant Superintendent for Business (presenter) cautioned that the state budget will not be final until April 1 at the earliest and that the governor’s proposal historically is often a baseline that the legislature improves. The district used the governor’s figures to update the tax‑cap calculation and reported a maximum allowable levy increase of 2.69% for fiscal year 2025‑26 (the maximum levy increase the district could seek without an override).
Administrators stressed that while an increase in state aid improves district capacity, much of the newly projected aid is already implicitly budgeted because the district used about $2.2 million in fund balance in the prior year to stay below the tax cap. The superintendent and presenters said the board’s target is to keep any levy increase at or below 2%, and that administrators will return to the board with recommended budget numbers at the March 24 meeting and a final recommended budget in April for adoption.
Board members asked whether administration intended to exceed the tax cap; presenters said there was no intend by administration to exceed the cap and asked the board for direction on whether it would consider an override. The board signaled preference to remain within the cap and toward a target near 2% while acknowledging that subsequent budget presentations and departmental requests could change the final recommendation.
Administrators said all presented numbers were tentative and that the comptroller’s office requires a tax‑cap calculation by March 1 but that the board can change the calculation up to final adoption.
