Niskayuna officials outline budget assumptions and a slim projected gap as thought‑exchange priorities emerge
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Summary
District staff presented preliminary 2026–27 budget assumptions and fund‑balance projections, projecting a modest gap (~$1.5M, about 1.3% of the general fund) and an estimated year‑end unassigned fund balance below the 4% target. Staff also reviewed community feedback (ThoughtExchange) that will guide draft budget priorities.
District finance staff on Jan. 13 walked the board through early assumptions for the 2026–27 budget and monthly fund‑balance figures that will inform the budget calendar.
The district reported a voter‑approved budget total of $116,100,000 and restricted reserves (capital, tax cert, workers' comp, pension) totaling nearly $14,000,000 as of the 6/30/2025 audit. Assigned fund balance applied to the budget was $22,575,000 and the audit unassigned fund balance reported was $4,600,000.
Finance staff projected a year‑end deficit of $326,000 tied to planned uses of assigned fund balance. The district estimated a projected unassigned fund balance of about $4.3 million (approximately 3.72% of the budget), below the district's 4% target, largely because of health‑insurance cost increases and prior resource allocations.
On revenue and assumptions for the coming year, staff estimated $1.9 million in salary increases (contracts, substitutes, stipends), additional health‑insurance costs, a roughly $300,000 net increase in retirement contributions, and other pressures including increased debt service and bus purchases. Foundation aid under current law was estimated to increase about 1.95% for this district, and staff projected a net revenue change that still left an approximate $1.5 million gap between projected expenses and revenues under preliminary assumptions.
Officials described the assumptions as an early starting point and said the picture will sharpen when the governor releases the executive budget and the district finalizes maintenance‑of‑effort figures. The board discussed priorities including sustaining academic programs, maintaining investments in student mental health and safety, and transportation and facilities needs tied to a planned building reconfiguration.
Staff also summarized results from a ThoughtExchange exercise (874 participants, 634 thoughts and 27,301 interactions). Top community priorities included student opportunities and inclusivity, teacher and staff support (including smaller class sizes and more sections for high‑demand courses), mental‑health supports, and transportation concerns such as bus runs and driver retention.