Amherst board hears revenue update, agrees on 2.9%–3.5% target range though plans to submit 4.4% cap‑compliant calculation

Mister Sibinski delivered the districts revenue update and asked the board whether it was comfortable submitting a tax‑cap compliant calculation at 4.4% to the New York State comptroller. He said recent updates (a change to BOCES capital exclusion and state aid runs) put projected revenue just over $87,000,000 and moved the cap‑compliant levy to 4.4%.

Sibinski said the district is "in safe harmless" for foundation aid and that the projections included a roughly 1% increase in foundation aid for the district. He noted a change in the capital exclusion of about $40,000 and cited an $1,800,000 exclusion for voter‑authorized capital expenses that will fall in later years as aid phases in.

Board members discussed whether the administration should aim below the 4.4% cap. Several members said they would prefer a more typical historic range of roughly 2.9% to 3.5% and asked staff to model the expenditure reductions that would be required to reach lower targets. Staff warned that lowering the target would require identifying additional cuts—Sibinski said examples of candidate savings include the previously discussed UPK transportation line—but that changes to state aid projections could alter the outcome.

The board agreed staff should submit a cap‑compliant calculation by the Feb. 28 deadline while continuing budget development toward a community‑tolerance target in the 2.9% to 3.5% range; a more detailed budget update is scheduled for March 17.