Fulton City School District presents 2026–27 budget with proposed 2.85% tax-levy rise and potential staffing reductions

At a March 24 board meeting, district finance staff told the Fulton City School District board that while cash flow is stronger than a year ago, a projected $5,000,000 shortfall remains in the draft 2026–27 budget and the administration is proposing a 2.85% increase to the district tax levy to help close the gap.

"Our available balance is at 16,000,000," said Miss Hooper, the district business official, describing the district's current fund position and noting that figure includes roughly $3,800,000 in reserves the administration set aside. She said projected state-aid adjustments and changes to Medicaid billing will help revenue but will not eliminate the shortfall.

Miss Hooper told the board she has adjusted state-aid assumptions since early estimates and that total state aid to the general fund had increased about $729,500 in the most recent run of numbers. The draft revenue total for 2026–27 is $94,500,000, she said, leaving an expense side gap of roughly $5,000,000 once current spending projections are rolled forward.

To reduce the gap, the administration outlined a mix of options: line-item reductions (supplies, some contractual services), negotiating vendor renewals (a copier lease reduction was cited), efficiency reviews of software subscriptions and BOCES services, and staffing changes primarily through attrition. Miss Hooper said the district is considering potential reductions that at this stage include up to 34 positions represented by the Fulton Teachers Association, 19 non-instructional positions and one administrative position; she emphasized these counts are still tentative and would be implemented "through retirements and resignations" where possible.

Superintendent (introduced by the board) said the team is trying "to stay as far away from our core program as possible" and stressed that the administration is attempting to avoid fully eliminating programs. "We're trying not to fully eliminate any programs," the superintendent said, adding district leaders are assessing schedules, class sizes and supports to minimize student impact.

Miss Hooper also explained how the proposed 2.85% levy would translate to households, with the caveat that tax rates are set by towns and the state and therefore individual bills can vary. She offered the administration's estimate that a $100,000 assessed home could see about a $52.50 annual increase (roughly $4.38 per month); a $200,000 home could see about $127.50 annually; a $300,000 home about $202.50 annually.

The administration noted possible revenue gains from changing Medicaid billing to be processed through OCM BOCES, which could yield an estimated additional $100,000, and said it plans to appropriate $550,000 from reserves and $532,491 in fund-balance adjustments as part of revenue planning. Miss Hooper said the combined revenue assumptions leave the district with a relatively flat budget increase under 1% overall from the prior year, but with the remaining gap to be resolved by expense reductions.

Board members asked for clarity on the impact to teaching and learning; both board members and district leaders emphasized efforts to avoid cutting required graduation programs and to preserve supports where feasible. The board also encouraged community advocacy for increased state foundation aid; members said they had been advising residents on a link to contact the governor and legislature.

Next procedural steps: the board plans community budget forums (to be held at the district education center and streamed), a public budget hearing on Thursday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m., and the district budget vote on May 19. Administration said it will notify any staff who will be directly impacted after reductions are finalized.

This account is based exclusively on comments and figures presented at the March 24 board meeting; specific staffing decisions and final levy decisions will be made later in the budget process and announced by the district.