Syracuse City School District projects $36.2M state-aid increase; plans STEAM high school and reduced fund-balance use

Syracuse — The Syracuse City School District told the Syracuse City Council at a budget hearing that it expects roughly $36.2 million in additional state aid for the coming year and is planning to open a STEAM high school in fall 2025 while using $15.5 million of fund balance to balance its operating budget.

Superintendent Tony Davies, presenting the district’s preliminary numbers, said the projected state-aid increase stems largely from recent adjustments to the Foundation Aid formula and updated poverty estimates. "This budget is based upon the Governor's original proposal," Davies said, adding the district will "make the adjustments as necessary once we hear a little bit more" when the state aid runs through.

The increases detailed by Davies include roughly $13.9 million from changes to Foundation Aid inputs — about $5.2 million tied to a new measure of economically disadvantaged students and about $8.7 million from changes to the district wealth floor and ceiling — plus an estimated CPI-driven increase and other categorical aids for a total state-aid boost of about $36.2 million. The district projects foundation aid of roughly $29.4 million (a 7.8% increase) and transportation aid of about…