Niskayuna projects small fiscal-year deficit; unassigned fund balance near 4% cap

Sean (district finance staff) presented fund‑balance projections for the 2025–26 fiscal year on Jan. 30. He reported a total beginning fund balance of $21,186,000, with restricted reserves of $13,900,000 and a combined assigned and unassigned balance of $7,200,000 (assigned $2,600,000; unassigned $4,600,000). "Our projected year‑end expenditures are at $115,300,000…projected year‑end revenues are at $113,700,000, which results in our expenditures exceeding our revenues by $326,000," Sean said.

That gap would reduce available fund balance to about $6.9 million and leave unassigned reserves at roughly 3.72% of expenditures, slightly below New York State’s 4% guideline. Staff described the deficit as largely the result of higher than expected health‑insurance claims this year and said that projections are conservative and will be refined in February.

Committee members noted the district uses assigned fund balance as a protective contingency for unexpected costs and praised the careful stewardship. Staff said fund‑balance monitoring will continue as a standing agenda item and that any decisions about one‑time investments will be made after projections are further refined.