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District staff present draft $111.09 million budget, propose capital outlay, camera funding and bus purchases
Summary
District staff presented a draft $111.09 million appropriation budget and draft ballot language for routine propositions including a $100,000 capital outlay set‑aside, $35,000 per year security camera funding, and a proposed $598,000 bus/vehicle purchase plan that includes diesel bus replacements and two electric vehicles.
District budget staff presented a draft 2025–26 appropriation limit of approximately $111.09 million at the March 18 Frontier Central School District Board of Education meeting and outlined related ballot language the board will consider in April and May.
The presenter (identified in the meeting transcript as Dr. Tillman) said the draft appropriation for next year is $111,000,009.69 (presenter slide), an increase of roughly $5 million from the prior year. The staff presentation described revenue estimates as conservative and said the primary revenue sources are property tax and state aid; the federal share of the state/federal aid line was described as “very, very small.” The presenter said the district expects the tax cap percentage for the forthcoming budget to fall in the 3.3–3.5 percent range (this year’s number was shown at 3.95 percent).
Staff outlined several propositions and budget specifics that will be included in voter materials if the board approves draft language at upcoming meetings:
- Capital outlay: the state allows districts to set aside $100,000 a year for capital outlay projects that are aidable; the presenter said the district is considering directing the next year’s capital outlay to work at the Cloverbank building (marquee, entryway, other exterior/admin work).
- Security cameras: the presenter said there is a component of the state aid formula that allows districts to budget $35,000 per year specifically for security camera upgrades or replacements; purchases made under that line can be fully aidable and the district would receive reimbursement the following year.
- Bus and vehicle purchases: draft language shown on the presenter’s slide totaled approximately $598,000 for next year’s bus and facility vehicle purchases. The presenter said the plan includes replacing three diesel buses (on the district’s seven‑to‑eight‑year replacement cycle) and adding two electric vehicles for facility use; five diesel buses were replaced this year and were delivered the week of the meeting.
The presenter said the board would see finalized numbers and adopt the proposition language at the April meeting so that materials can be printed and included in the voters’ pamphlet for the May budget vote. An outside attorney had already reviewed the draft language, the presenter said.
No vote to adopt the appropriation limit or the specific propositions occurred at the meeting; the presenter answered board questions and invited additional review prior to the April and May deadlines.
The presentation also covered anticipated expenditures (salaries, benefits, debt service, equipment and supplies) and an explanation of the district’s approach to conservative revenue projections.
Follow-up: staff said they will return to the board in April with finalized tax‑cap and proposition language for ballot printing.
