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TST BOCES officials outline budget increases, program expansions and short‑term borrowing practice
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Summary
TST BOCES Superintendent Lily Talcott and assistant superintendent Dave Parsons told the Ithaca board the regional BOCES budget shows a modest 0.13% increase driven by contractual obligations, program expansion (CTE machining), and salary/benefit shifts; presenters described aid ratios and a short‑term borrowing practice that generates regional interest income.
Lily Talcott, superintendent of TST BOCES, and Dave Parsons, assistant superintendent, presented the regional BOCES budget to the Ithaca City School District board on March 10, explaining why next year’s initial service request shows a 0.13% increase and what that means for component districts.
Talcott framed the presentation around New York State’s “New York Inspires” priorities and the local plan to regionalize services for economies of scale. She said the BOCES aid ratio returns about 46.6 cents for every aidable dollar, and that some changes reflect program requests from districts and contractual obligations. “For every dollar that is BOCES‑aidable, you get 46.6¢ back on that dollar,” Talcott said.
Parsons walked through line items that drive the increase: contractual salary obligations, program expansion (notably a new manufacturing/machining CTE program), and health and retirement costs. Parsons said the salary portion equates to roughly 1.67% of the BOCES budget and that health‑insurance budgeting and retiree benefits are notable drivers of change. “When you’re increasing programs and bringing on other people, we have to accommodate that,” Parsons said.
Presenters described several budget mechanics that affect districts: a capital reserve used to smooth capital work (windows, electrical, partition doors), a practice of depreciating CTE equipment over 10 years, and a short‑term borrowing arrangement used regionally to manage cash flow. Talcott and Parsons said the region borrows in November and repays in June; districts can invest tax receipts in the interim. Parsons noted the practice can generate $7 million to $10 million of interest income across the region depending on rates and cash flows.
Talcott added a caution on compliance and limits: some dollars are not BOCES‑aidable and statute rules what may be budgeted in the BOCES administrative budget. She told the board the administrative budget is the item districts will vote on and that the budget numbers presented are based on initial service requests and may change before final adoption.
Board members asked about program transport and capital funding. Talcott said student transportation to new CTE sites is the responsibility of the sending district but that TST BOCES is exploring inter‑municipal agreements to increase flexibility. On capital projects, Parsons explained the two funding paths: billing districts directly or financing through DASNY for larger projects.
The presentation concluded with a reminder that component districts will vote on two items next month: the BOCES administrative budget and electing a representative for Ithaca/South Seneca/Trumansburg at the April 29 meeting. Talcott and Parsons said more precise numbers will follow as service requests are finalized.
