Massena Central School District board approves $74.4 million budget proposal with 0% tax increase; capital and reserve propositions advanced

The Presenter outlined a proposed $74,402,939 spending plan for the 2025–26 school year and said the district will present a budget to voters with a 0% tax increase.

The Presenter said projected revenues include roughly $51.4 million in state and federal aid, about $1.5 million in miscellaneous income, $300,000 in transfers and approximately $2.9 million appropriated from the fund balance. On the expense side, he cited estimated salaries of $30,309,000, benefits of $20,700,000, debt service of $3,900,000, a BOCES bill of $11,400,000 and other costs near $6,200,000; he said the district expects a balanced budget.

The Presenter cautioned that the numbers are preliminary because the state budget was behind its statutory deadline and current projections rely on the governor’s proposal. He said the district expects about $3,967,000 more in state aid but after accounting for building aid increases the net new operational aid is roughly $2,458,000, leaving about $2,079,000 in new spending capacity.

Staffing and program leads included requests for new special-education supports and curriculum positions. The Presenter said two aide positions would be converted to teaching assistants (estimated $115,000) so staff can provide direct instruction; he also proposed adding school psychologists to run CSE/504 meetings and to support preschool evaluations, and requested speech-pathology staffing though he said hiring remains difficult. The presentation listed three new departmental chair positions in curriculum and a Summer Raider Academy with an estimated cost of $72,000 plus $3,000 for expanded mentor meetings.

Transportation and capital items were part of the budget picture. The Presenter proposed replacing two small buses with a single 30-passenger bus equipped with a wheelchair lift and noted the addition would increase the budget by about $180,000; he also described a proposed vehicle lease program to replace eight aging vehicles (plus one conference vehicle) and cited projected 10-year savings of roughly $250,000 if the fleet rotation plan with Enterprise is followed.

On facilities, the presentation identified a security window for the high school office and corridor paneling replacement as capital outlay work. The Presenter previewed three propositions for voters: the $74.4 million budget proposition, a $79.8 million capital project proposition and a $5 million equipment reserve fund with an anticipated 10-year life.

At the close of the presentation the Chair moved the budget resolution. The board voted by voice in favor of the budget resolution, approved the district’s 2025–26 property tax report card and carried the capital outlay project resolution; each motion passed on a voice vote.

The board listed planned next steps: more discussion of the capital project after spring break and presenting the propositions to voters as scheduled.