Delhi board reviews budget scenarios, aims to hold 2.9% tax levy if state aid holds
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Summary
Superintendent presented options to address a projected roughly $300,000 shortfall tied to state aid uncertainty; staff proposed using fund balance, delaying some equipment purchases, and trimming nonacademic expenditures to maintain a 2.9% tax levy without staff cuts.
District leaders told the board on March that pending state budget decisions and rising costs have created a near‑term budget gap the district must address before finalizing its proposed levy.
The Superintendent said recent state aid uncertainty left the district about $300,000 short of earlier projections. "Last time we met, we're about $300,000 in the bridal," the Superintendent said, summarizing the updated financial position and noting rising expenses and timing issues in state aid flows.
Administrators presented a mix of mitigations: deferring some equipment and textbook purchases (roughly $75,000 identified), trimming conference travel and nonessential field trips, identifying possible small savings within BOCES contracts, and drawing modestly on repair reserves (the meeting referenced roughly $200,000 in repair reserve that could be used for immediate facilities needs). The presenters emphasized that the proposals were designed to avoid staff reductions while keeping essential academic programs intact.
Board members asked for clarity on tax-levy scenarios and impacts to homeowners. Staff illustrated a 2.9% levy scenario and noted the effect on a sample $200,000 house with basic STAR: roughly a $6 monthly increase under that scenario. The Superintendent said the district aims to reach a consensus on the budget by mid‑April, ahead of the May budget vote, and scheduled follow‑up budget workshops.
Several procedural votes followed the presentation, and the board set workshop dates to refine numbers and revisit any adjustments depending on the state budget outcome.
Next steps: administrators will provide more detailed spending and revenue scenarios at upcoming budget workshops and produce a recommended levy for board consideration before the formal adoption deadline.
