Saranac Lake board advances transportation and library propositions, approves budget transfers as staff warns of grant uncertainty

The Saranac Lake Central School District Board of Education on March 12 approved a budget transfer report and voted to place two propositions on the upcoming district ballot: a transportation proposition authorizing purchase of student-transportation vehicles not to exceed $324,000, and a library proposition reflecting a 4% increase, $532,370.80.

Staff presented the budgetary transfer report and said several transfers occurred but none were “substantial,” noting some corrections to substitute-staff budget lines. The board adopted Resolution 0882024 approving the transfer report as presented.

The board then considered Resolution 0892024 to place the transportation and library propositions on the ballot. Vicky (Staff member) explained the transportation request as a standard replacement cycle for buses, noting, “There are buses, up to not to exceed 324,000.” The library proposition was presented as a pass-through levy the district collects and forwards to the library; staff clarified the district does not set library spending.

During an extended budget-forecast presentation, staff outlined revenue sources and constraints. The presenter (Staff member) said the district received $441,455 in federal Title funding last year across Title I/II/IV and related programs and noted $379,117 in special-education aid. The district is in year three of a five-year 21st Century Learning grant reported at $756,000 per year. The presenter cautioned that some federal and state programs are subject to pending decisions and that these grants can fluctuate, affecting next year’s revenues.

Staff summarized the tax-cap calculation and associated levy impact, saying the district’s tax-cap maximum was 4.44%, representing a levy increase of $1,084,343 tied largely to added debt service for capital work. The presenter advised the board that some accounting changes created an apparent $97,000 reduction in “other income,” but the change correspondingly reduced salaries lines and did not represent a net cash shortfall.

On fund balance and reserves, staff said the district’s unassigned fund balance stands at $3,801,290 and that last year the district used just over $2 million of unallocated fund balance to balance the budget. Staff said the district anticipates using roughly $1,000,000 of fund balance for next year’s budget and recommended a prudent level of unallocated funds to avoid short-term borrowing given the district’s two-week payroll (presenter cited an example two-week payroll around $744,000).

A roll-call vote to approve Resolution 0892024 placed the propositions on the ballot and passed; board members recorded in the roll call included Mark (yes), Nancy (yes), Justin (absent), Joe (yes), Mike (yes), Zach (yes) and Tory (yes).

What happens next: The propositions will appear on the district ballot for the scheduled vote; the board will return to review the expenditure side of the budget at a subsequent meeting and continue monitoring state and federal grant developments that could affect staffing or program funding.

Sources: Board discussion and motions at the March 12 meeting of the Saranac Lake Central School District Board of Education.