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Frontier Central board hears rollover budget, faces lower foundation aid and rising health-care costs
Summary
District staff presented a rollover budget and preliminary revenue estimate (just over $111 million), warned of a projected tax levy limit near 3.56%, noted health-care cost increases (projected 8–12%) and highlighted a drop in foundation aid that could cost the district roughly $325,000–$360,000 per percentage point.
At a board meeting, a district budget presentation reviewed a rollover budget (rolling current services forward) and preliminary revenue figures for next fiscal year. Staff described a draft revenue projection slightly above $111 million and cautioned figures are preliminary; they will return in two weeks with a more finely tuned balanced budget.
Presenters emphasized that personnel and benefits account for roughly three-quarters of expenditures and that health-care costs are trending higher than recent years. The presenter said health-care projections are in the 8–10% range and noted staff is tracking prescription rebates and utilization that could offset some increases.
The board discussed state aid and a notable projected drop in foundation aid for Western New York. Officials said foundation aid is currently projected at about 1% for some districts (versus a more typical 2–2.5%), and estimated each percentage point in foundation aid equates to roughly $325,000260 for Frontier, translating to a meaningful gap for the budget. Committee members said they would continue to lobby state representatives about the distribution of foundation aid.
Staff also reviewed the tax levy limit projection (presented as a maximum of about 3.56%), the district's reliance on BOCES services and the cost of outsourcing transportation (outsourced routes cost roughly $100,000250 per route per month in the presenter’s description), noting the district outsources about 112014 routes depending on year. The presenter said the district is pursuing strategies to internalize routes by recruiting drivers and expanding its fleet.
Board members asked technical questions about PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) schedules, ERS rate changes (noted as a spike of roughly 7% in one comment), and how the district's foundation-aid mix compares with other Erie 1 districts. Staff committed to return with the draft balanced budget and more detailed figures at the next meeting.
