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Superintendent: Troy City School District faces roughly $2.8 million budget gap; board weighs attrition, incentives and a modest tax-levy
Summary
At a board meeting, the superintendent outlined measures to close an estimated $2.8 million deficit: strict attrition, targeted retirement incentives for elementary teachers, shifting some social-emotional staff to grant funding and consideration of a modest tax-levy increase (options discussed included roughly 1.75%–2%).
The superintendent told the Troy City School District Board of Education that adjustments to the draft budget have narrowed an earlier $4.1 million shortfall to about $2.8 million, and outlined three ways to close the remaining gap: additional state revenue runs, a change to the tax levy and use of reserves.
That presentation, given during the board’s public meeting, laid out staffing and funding moves the district is proposing to avoid layoffs. The superintendent said four elementary sections are being recommended for reduction (three at Carroll Hill and one at School 2), several existing unfilled special-education positions and one recently vacated instructional-coach post will not be refilled, and some co-teach positions added during COVID will be preserved where possible through attrition.
"We reduced… close to 3 hours going through all of the positions," the superintendent said, adding the district has sustained a 0% tax-levy increase since 2021. He said the district has cut 14 positions in this round "with really no layoffs at this point" and called the approach a "strict attrition plan."
The superintendent flagged two targeted financing moves: a TTA memorandum of agreement on the agenda that would provide a limited retirement incentive for elementary classroom teachers, and transferring several social-emotional staff from the general fund into carryover IDA grant funding to preserve those roles.
When a board member asked whether the IDA grant is a federal grant and whether it is at risk, the superintendent said the title and IDA funds "appear already marked and not really at risk" for the coming year but cautioned that future federal funding changes could introduce uncertainty.
On the tax-levy question, the superintendent discussed several scenarios and presented a household-cost framing to illustrate the trade-offs: "It'll be $5.25 a month" under one illustrative option. He said a 2% levy combined with stronger state aid projections could reduce the shortfall materially but emphasized the need to limit recurring costs covered with one-time reserves.
The superintendent set Draft 3 of the budget for April 9 and noted that adoption would follow on April 22 if state funding runs are favorable. He urged continued outreach to parent and community groups to explain any levy proposal and the positions affected.
What’s next: the board will review Draft 3 on April 9, continue discussion about levy options and the attrition plan, and consider the proposed TTA retirement incentive before a vote on adoption in late April.
Sources: Remarks by the Superintendent (presentation and Q&A) and board discussion during the public meeting.
