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Bath Central School District board advances $50.9M budget; plans retirements and layoffs to close gap
Summary
At its April meeting the Bath Central School District board reviewed a proposed $50.9 million 2025–26 budget that would rely on 19 retirements, selective replacements and cuts to teaching‑assistant positions; a public hearing is set for May 13 and the budget vote on May 20.
The Bath Central School District board on its April regular meeting presented a proposed $50,900,000 2025–26 budget that the board said is about a 6.2% increase from the prior year and would require staffing reductions to balance recurring costs.
“ We did approve to send of the voters a $50,900,000 budget. That's about a 6.2% increase or roughly $3,000,000 over last year,” the board chair said, describing revenue and expenditure pressures facing the district.
The chair and district staff told the board the fiscal challenge is driven largely by the end of one‑time federal COVID relief dollars (about $1,700,000 per year previously) and by rising health‑insurance costs. The district expects a roughly $1,300,000 increase in foundation aid and a 2.1% tax‑levy increase that would generate about $200,000; together those revenue changes amount to an estimated $1,500,000 of additional operational revenue — less than the $1,700,000 the district had previously received in COVID relief.
To close the gap the board outlined personnel changes: the district recorded 19 retirements this year and is planning to replace three positions; it also plans to eliminate nine teaching‑assistant positions (one through resignation and eight by layoff). The chair said there are no planned cuts to classes or extracurricular programs and that the district has relied on fund balance and attrition to soften the impact so far.
The board presented estimated proportional reductions described in its remarks as roughly an 11% reduction in administrative staff, a 7% reduction in teaching staff and a 30% reduction in teaching assistants — a category the chair said was created largely with temporary COVID federal funding.
District staff also clarified that capital projects and operating funds are separate: capital work on roofs, HVAC and the pool is funded from a separate capital fund and cannot legally be reallocated to pay salaries, according to the staff presentation.
Votes at a glance • Approval of prior meeting minutes — passed 4–0. • Committee on Special Education recommendations (consent) — passed 4–0. • CSEA transportation contract — passed 4–0. • GST BOCES administrative budget (approx. $9.3M) — passed 4–0. • Personnel and appointment items (consent) — passed 4–0.
Why it matters The board must present a balanced budget to voters; the proposed plan shifts recurring costs previously covered by one‑time federal aid onto permanent operations, requiring staffing adjustments or other permanent savings. The board framed the staffing reductions as a last resort to align recurring expenditures with recurring revenue.
What’s next The district scheduled a public budget hearing for 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 in the auditorium and the annual budget vote and Board of Education election for May 20 from noon to 8 p.m. in the district office.
