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Victor Central board adopts proposed $116.3 million 2026–27 budget to place before voters on May 19
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Summary
The Victor Central School District board voted to adopt a $116,316,911 budget for 2026–27 and place it on the May 19 ballot; the plan includes a 4.29% tax-levy increase within the state cap, a $1.5 million bus fleet proposition, and a goal to reduce use of fund balance next year.
The Victor Central School District Board of Education voted to adopt a proposed $116,316,911 budget for the 2026–27 school year and to place the measure on the district ballot for voters on May 19, 2026.
Christina, the district presenter, told the board the spending plan represents a 5.96% increase over the prior year and that roughly 76% of the budget is devoted to salaries and benefits. "Our total proposed expenditures is $116,316,911," she said, and added that rising health-insurance premiums — projected at about a 15.5% increase, or roughly $3 million — are a major driver of the growth.
The proposed tax levy increase of $2,596,939 (about 4.29%) is within the state-mandated cap, the presenter said, and total projected revenue for the district is approximately $110,272,328, leaving an estimated budget gap near $6 million. To bridge that gap, the district plans to use a portion of its appropriated fund balance while seeking efficiencies; officials set a target to reduce reliance on one-time fund balance from about $6 million this year to below $5 million, ideally $4 million, in 2026–27.
The presenter highlighted two adjustments since March: an additional $300,000 in BOCES-related revenue associated with dual-enrollment programming and a $250,000 reduction in BOCES expenses after removing salaries already recorded elsewhere in the budget. She also said tuition costs are expected to rise by about $485,000 for additional out-of-district placements for students with disabilities.
On state aid, the presenter said the largest aid line is foundation aid, which she estimated at $27,642,219 — an increase of about $555,000 (roughly 2.2%) based on an assumed 2% statewide increase. "That 555,000 is the 2%," a board member clarified during questioning, noting the figure is an estimate because the state had not finalized its budget. The presenter and board members stressed that the final foundation-aid number could be lower or higher, which would change how much fund balance the district must use.
The budget package also includes a $1.5 million fleet-replacement proposition to finance eight diesel buses over five years; district officials said that consistent replacement cycles generate transportation aid and support safety and reliability.
The board set several budget-calendar dates for public engagement: a budget hearing and "meet the candidates" event on May 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the junior–senior high performing arts center, voter registration on May 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the district office, and voting on May 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Early Childhood School boardroom.
At the meeting the board took a motion to adopt the proposed budget; the district clerk, Kate, read the resolution and conducted a roll call. The recorded votes were in the affirmative from the board members listed during the roll call, and the motion carried, placing the $116,316,911 budget before district voters on May 19, 2026.
Next steps: the district will transmit its property-tax report card to the New York State Education Department within 24 hours of board adoption and continue public outreach in advance of the May vote.
