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Batavia district presents balanced budget with 2% tax-levy increase; hearing set for May 11
Summary
The board reviewed a final draft of the general fund budget described as balanced and including a proposed 2% tax-levy increase (about $415,000). Officials set a public budget hearing for May 11 and the vote for May 19, and detailed principal revenue and expenditure pressures including a 30% rise in health insurance and increased special-education costs.
The Batavia City School District on Monday reviewed a final draft of its general fund budget that administrators described as balanced while proposing a 2% tax-levy increase that would raise roughly $415,000.
Business administrator (presentation) said the district’s revenue mix is dominated by state aid and local property tax: about 57% comes from state aid and roughly 21% from the tax levy, with other revenue and appropriated fund balance making up the remainder. On the expenditure side, staff noted a roughly 30% increase in health insurance costs and higher special-education outplacement expenses as key drivers of spending pressure.
Why it matters: the vote on the budget determines the levy charged to property owners and sets school spending priorities. The board set a public budget hearing for May 11 at 6 p.m. in the district conference room and scheduled the districtwide vote for May 19; election-day polling hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. this year, and construction at Robert Morris means some voters normally assigned to that school will cast ballots at John Kennedy instead.
Business administrator presented several adjustments that reduced general-fund pressure, including moving four social-worker positions to the special-aid fund (positions currently supported by grant funding that expires January 2027) and not replacing at least one retirement. Administrators cautioned that when the grant funding ends the district will need to decide in a future budget whether to reinstate those positions in the general fund or secure other grant support.
Board members praised staff work to bring the projected levy down from higher earlier estimates and said the district will continue public outreach about the hearing and voting logistics. No final levy resolution was recorded in the transcript of the public session; the board set the hearing and the vote dates and approved routine items during the same meeting.
The board will revisit final budget adoption following the public hearing and any updates to state aid, assessments or other revenues that could alter the final tax rate.
