Beacon City School District proposes 2025–26 budget at the tax cap; board weighs bus purchases and technology upgrades

Superintendent Matt Landau and district officials reviewed the Beacon City School District’s preliminary 2025–26 budget and related capital and transportation proposals at the board meeting on March 24.

Landau and Finance staff presented a proposed preliminary budget of approximately $86,000,000 with a year-to-year increase of about 3.6 percent and a recommended tax-levy increase at the 5.15 percent tax cap. "This is a budget that allows us to keep doing the amazing things we're doing while targeting specific student supports," Landau said.

Nut graf: The proposed budget incorporates debt service from a recent capital project, recurring personnel and benefit costs, and targeted additions in instruction and support. The board spent substantial time discussing a potential bus proposition for the ballot, the district’s electric-bus timeline, and technology investments expected to appear in next year’s capital or operating plans.

Budget highlights and fiscal context

- Tax levy and timeline: administrators recommended a budget at the tax cap (5.15%). The board’s final adoption date for the budget is April 22, with further instructional-detail review scheduled for April 7. The presenters showed scenarios of lower levy rates (for example, 4.68% and 4.15%) and related revenue impacts.

- Drivers of the increase: officials cited rising health-insurance costs (7–8 percent), general insurance increases (reported regionally at 11 percent), higher Chromebook prices (about 10 percent), and increased employee pension costs (ERS up; TRS slightly down). Salaries, benefits and debt service together account for roughly 88.5 percent of the budget.

Transportation and the bus proposition

District transportation staff and administrators explained the current fleet and a possible ballot proposition to replace vehicles. Current figures presented: 23 full-size buses and 24 vans (small buses); about 1,765 in-district riders and 143 students transported to out-of-district placements. The department currently lists 32 bus drivers (two in training) and 14 monitors.

The transportation supervisor’s proposed "wish list" for a ballot proposition included three 72-passenger buses plus two smaller vehicles (one wheelchair-accessible bus and one small van). Administrators noted the state mandate driving a shift to electric purchases by 2027 and explained that the district already has two electric buses on order (voters approved one electric bus previously and later approved two more). Chargers for those buses are on order and the two electric buses are expected this summer, pending charger installation.

Officials cautioned that to purchase more than two electric buses the district would likely need a small capital project at the transportation facility to increase electrical charging capacity; that upgrade was not included in last year’s $50 million building-focused capital project. Central Hudson and a review team will determine exact electrical needs and costs.

Technology and other capital items

Interim technology director Micah Damcek presented a brief overview of planned upgrades: a replacement phone system (installation beginning this summer), new network switches (some E-Rate funded), a firewall update for network security, continued Chromebook replacement (replacement cycles up to seventh–eighth grade), and a virtual-server replacement. The district reported higher Chromebook unit costs than in prior years.

Questions, next steps and board direction

Board members asked for additional detail about which buses would be replaced by any new purchases, mileage and vehicle condition; administrators committed to provide that information before the April 22 ballot deadline. Landau and staff said they will bring more detailed technology budget figures and building-by-building staffing comparisons to the April 7 meeting; administrators also plan community outreach and PTA presentations about the budget in April.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 11.01 through 15.06, minus 12.07 G14): motion to approve passed 8–0. - Item 12.07 G14 (removed from the consent agenda then considered separately): motion to approve passed with one abstention (vote recorded as 7 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain). - Motion to adjourn to executive session to review the employment history of a particular individual: motion passed (vote recorded as unanimous at the meeting).

Ending

Administrators said the district will return with additional detail at the April 7 meeting (instructional budget and technology numbers) and must finalize ballot language by the April 22 adoption. Landau said the district will increase community communications about the budget, including PTA appearances, public forums and FAQ materials.