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Mount Sinai UFSD holds fourth budget workshop; board places three propositions on May 20 ballot
Summary
District officials presented a budget proposal of $70.7 million, projected a 3.95% tax-rate impact within the cap, and described three propositions (budget, a $1.9 million library item and a $2 million capital-reserve-funded elementary project) for the May 20 vote.
During the board's fourth budget workshop, district staff reviewed proposed spending, projected state aid and the items that will appear on the May 20 ballot.
The district presented a proposed 2025-26 budget of $70,700,000, a year-to-year increase described in the presentation as 2.8%. Officials said the district's calculation produced a projected tax-rate impact of 3.95%, which the presenter said would be within the tax cap. The presentation listed components of state aid as presented to the board: foundation aid $14,000,000; high-cost aid $307,000; private excess cost/special education supplemental $37,000; building aid $11,000; transportation $2,100,000; high-tax aid $3,930,000; textbook/software aid $162,000; computer hardware aid $22,000; and BOCES aid $533,000. The presenter summarized those items in a total presented to the board (as stated in the meeting packet).
The administration highlighted fund-balance sensitivity, saying that without state-aid increases and with repeated 2% budget targets, the fund balance could erode. Staff said the board and district leadership have been advocating with state representatives and working with other districts to press for additional state funding.
Capital needs discussed included continuing work from the prior year's capital program and an emergent exterior-repair need at the modular kindergarten/pre-K wing at the elementary school. Presenters said the modular facade has deteriorated, allowing water intrusion and necessitating full exterior replacement, new windows and related repairs; HVAC and electrical repairs in the portables and gymnasium were also mentioned. The board packet and presentation described Proposition 3 as a $2,000,000 capital-reserve appropriation for elementary-school capital repairs; presenters said that use of the capital reserve "will not cause any increase in property tax." Other propositions listed on the agenda were the overall $70,700,000 budget and a library services capital item of $1,900,000.
Important dates announced in the presentation included a budget hearing on May 13, the school budget vote on May 20 at the high school (polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and a requirement to adopt the property tax report card that evening so it can be filed with the State Education Department by close of business the next day. Presenters also reviewed voter turnout history and encouraged community participation.
The presenter described a multi-year capital picture and clarified that some unplanned work (the elementary modular exterior) had to be moved forward. Staff said SED approvals apply to certain capital work and that the energy performance contract discussion on the same agenda would be coordinated with ongoing projects.
No financial vote to adopt the budget was recorded in the portion of the transcript containing the workshop remarks; the record later shows the board adopted propositions to place items on the ballot during the annual vote portion of the meeting.
