North Syracuse board hears $2.1M budget gap, approves ballot propositions and bus bond for May 19 vote
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Summary
District officials told the Board of Education they face a $2.1 million operating deficit, plan to use about $9.4 million in reserves, and approved placing ballot propositions — including a bus bond — on the May 19, 2026 ballot.
The North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education was told Tuesday that the district faces a $2.1 million operating deficit and will likely rely on roughly $9.4 million from fund balance and reserves as it finalizes the 2026–27 budget.
Don, the district’s business official, told trustees the district is wrestling with three structural revenue challenges: a historically low tax rate relative to peer suburban districts, underpayment of foundation aid over many years and the limits of New York’s 2% tax cap. "We've got about a $2,100,000 deficit," Don said, and "we've got to use another $9,400,000 of fund balance and reserves." He said the district has received about $192,300,000 less foundation aid than the formula required since 2007 and that the tax cap has cost the district roughly $7,300,000 over the last five years.
Why it matters: the budget picture determines whether the district raises the tax levy, shifts programs, or draws on reserves. Don said estimated revenues are about $231,000,000 for the coming year and that the district projects a 3.4% growth in revenues overall; he calculated the tax impact on a $200,000 home at about $169.
Trustees were asked to approve the ballot propositions and related election materials for the district vote and budget election set for May 19, 2026, and moved the item to a roll-call vote. President Michael Maurizio opened the motion; board members made the procedural motions and the board approved placing the propositions on the ballot.
The board’s near-term steps: staff will continue to monitor final state aid tied to the New York state budget in the coming weeks and work to close the remaining $2.1 million gap before the budget adoption deadline. The business office noted pilot revenue changes related to past pilot agreements and said a Micron pilot is expected to take effect in the 2027–28 school year, not the coming year.
The board approved moving the bus bond proposition and budget notice to voters on May 19, 2026. The record in the meeting transcript does not include a full roll-call tally in the publicly available portion of the minutes.
