Amherst Central projects $81.5M in revenue; board agrees to submit tax‑cap compliant levy

Amherst Central School District officials presented a revenue-focused budget update at the board meeting, reporting projected revenues of $81,500,000 for the coming year, a state-aid increase of about $1,700,000 (roughly 5.8%), and a tax‑cap levy that the district estimates at about a 2.3% increase (approximately $933,000).

The budget presenter, Miss Bizinski (staff member), told the board, “Tonight's update really focuses on our revenue picture.” She said the district is not updating expenditures in this presentation and that the capital exclusion and state-aid runs are the primary drivers behind the current revenue picture.

The revenue picture and the tax-cap calculation

The district said its compliant tax calculation results in a 2.3% levy increase (about $933,000). The district reported a capital exclusion of about $980,000 that is added on top of the tax-cap calculation because the voters previously authorized those capital expenditures. Miss Bizinski said the district’s total state-aid projection is about $30,500,000, noting “a 7.4% increase in general state aid and a deduction of 2 to 2.5 percent in building aid.” Combining the other estimated revenues from the December presentation, the district’s total projected revenue is $81,500,000, a 3.5% increase from the prior year.

Officials said the statewide growth factor for Amherst used in the tax-cap formula is 1.0 (the district reported prior-year values of 1.0007 and higher in earlier years). The presenter explained that the CPI portion of the cap is capped at 2% for the formula. Board members debated whether reassessment and a change from a 62% assessment rate to full valuation produced the appearance of growth in the assessment base; one board member said, “There's definitely growth in the assessment base,” and the presenter stated the growth factor number is provided by the Office of the Comptroller and that the district will request the underlying calculations used by the Comptroller.

Budget gap, timing and next steps

The district reported projected expenditures remain at $82,000,000, leaving a current gap of about $618,000. Miss Bizinski told the board the expenditure side will be addressed in depth at the March meeting and emphasized that the district will present a balanced budget: “We will always recommend a balanced budget to you.” The presenter said nine retirement letters have been received to date and that retirements, breakage and department-level adjustments typically narrow early-year gaps.

Board direction and formal actions recorded

Because the tax-cap filing to the Office of the Comptroller is due by March 1, the board chair asked for a verbal poll about submitting a tax‑cap‑compliant levy at the projected rate. Board members responded in the affirmative; the presenter confirmed the district will submit the form and that numbers can be updated later if state or formula inputs change.

The board also took two formal steps at the meeting: a motion to approve routine consent items described by the mover as items "e, f, and g" (new business personnel and financial items) was seconded and approved (recorded vote: motion carries 6–0). The transcript records the clerk’s roll-call phrasing as "approving consent item d" during the vote; the transcript therefore contains inconsistent item lettering between the motion and the vote. Later the board moved, seconded and approved convening an executive session "for matters regarding the point of a particular person"; the motion carried 6–0.

Why this matters

If the district finalizes a levy near the projected tax‑cap calculation, it affects homeowners’ tax bills and the revenue base for school operations and capital projects. The board will revisit expenditures and the final certified levy later this spring; the district will re-certify the actual levy in July after the budget is adopted.

What’s next

District staff said they will: (1) submit the tax‑cap‑compliant form to the Office of the Comptroller by the March 1 intent deadline, (2) request the Comptroller’s growth-factor calculations for review, and (3) present detailed expenditure runs and any recommended adjustments at the March board meeting before the district finalizes its adopted budget.