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Granville board approves 2025'26 budget and $5.83 million tax levy amid enrollment decline
Summary
After a budget presentation showing a 14.5% enrollment decline since 2018 and proposed one-time transportation purchases, the Granville Central School District board approved the 2025'26 budget and a $5,828,507 tax levy; the budget amount as read in the transcript was unclear and is noted as presented at the meeting.
A district staff member presented seven-year enrollment and financial trends and the Granville Central School District board voted to approve the district's 2025'26 budget and the tax levy at its meeting.
The presenter said district enrollment has fallen about 14.5% since 2018 and that staffing has increased roughly 8% over the same period, driven primarily by support staff needs tied to programming and student services. The staff member described revenue composition, saying state aid represents about 65.51% of the district's revenue and that the proposed budget relies partly on use of the fund balance to purchase five buses and a van.
"The budget this year we're proposing is 3,136,943 dollars more than last year, 10.37%," the staff member said while describing year'to'year increases and a breakdown showing roughly 33.29% of the increase tied to transportation purchases and nearly 21% tied to health-insurance cost increases. The presenter also said the district expects the fund balance could fall to about 9.88% of next year's proposed budget if planned transfers are made.
A board member questioned how long the district can rely on fund balance and expressed concern that a roughly 10% increase would eventually "catch up" to the district. Board discussion noted state guidance on fund-balance targets and the need to align staffing and facilities to declining enrollment.
The board moved to approve the 2025'26 budget (motion language as read in the meeting is recorded in the official minutes; the amount read in the transcript is unclear) and separately approved the 2025'26 tax levy in the amount of $5,828,507. The budget motion was made by "John" and seconded by Lowell on the record; the tax levy motion was made by Michelle and seconded by Charlie. Both measures were approved on voice votes with no opposition recorded in the transcript.
The board also approved the 2025 property-tax report card as presented. The meeting record shows the board then moved to adjourn.
