Amherst Central proposes roughly $81.7 million budget, 2.3% tax‑levy increase for 2025–26, officials say

Amherst Central School District staff presented a proposed $81.6–$81.7 million budget for the 2025–26 school year at a public hearing, saying the plan uses a tax‑cap‑compliant levy increase of about 2.3% and anticipates higher state aid.

A district staff member opened the hearing and described the proposal as rooted in the district mission and strategic plan. “Our mission statement is what drives all of our decisions,” the staff member said, summarizing how the budget funds instruction, health and safety, and social‑emotional supports for students.

District officials told the hearing they expect state aid to rise by roughly $1.7 million (about 5.8%), based on the January executive budget figures, and they forecast a foundation aid level just over $19 million. The presenters said expense‑based aids (transportation, building, special education, BOCES) together contribute about $500,000 of the increase, driven mainly by transportation aid calculations tied to higher prior‑year expenditures.

The proposal uses a mix of revenues and reserves: presenters described an allocation of roughly $1.0 million from fund balance and just under $1.2 million combined from fund balance and reserves to offset expenditures. Officials said they plan to use premiums from recent debt borrowing to lower the levy and to keep the district’s year‑to‑year levy more…