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Board reviews third budget draft, weighs shifting cafeteria monitor costs to food fund
Summary
The Grand Island Central School District presented a third budget draft totaling $81,000,006.85 (a 2.9% increase), reported $1.9 million in cumulative reductions and $149,800 in further cuts, and discussed whether breakfast/lunch monitor payroll could be charged to the school lunch (C) fund to stay under state surplus limits.
The Grand Island Central School District Board of Education reviewed a third iteration of the 2026 budget on March 23 that the administration said totals $81,000,006.85 and represents a 2.9% increase from last year.
"We have taken another $149,000 out of the budget," Dr. Miller said as he described expense reductions that brought the proposed increase down from earlier drafts. Administration staff said the district has reduced equipment purchases and removed two pickup trucks from a capital proposition, replacing them with a single van option to support maintenance and technology needs.
The presentation explained that the district has cut roughly $1.9 million overall since the first draft and is recommending 2.4 net position changes (including an addition to public relations and one high-school art position) alongside other line-item reductions. "Pages 13, 14, you've seen these pages before," Dr. Miller told trustees while walking through the changes.
Board members pressed administration on whether the salaries for new breakfast monitors could be charged to the food-service (C) fund rather than the general (A) fund. "We can investigate that," the superintendent said; board members asked the administration to follow up before a possible April adoption.
The schedule for final adoption was discussed: the board may use a special meeting on April 13 or adopt at the regular meeting on April 21, allowing the district to meet mailing and state filing deadlines.
Procedural votes taken during the meeting included approval of the agenda and minutes, routine personnel items, and finance motions related to returning leased equipment and accepting donations. All recorded voice votes were carried by the board in favor during this session.
Next steps: District financial staff will investigate whether monitor positions can be charged to the C fund and provide that clarification before the board's final decision on the budget.
