Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bay Shore budget work session: BOCES costs, capital transfers and middle‑school renovations
Summary
At work session No. 4 the district reported moving $1 million from special‑ed tuition to BOCES to cover rising costs, outlined capital transfer plans with $7.5M committed and additional needs, and described middle‑school Phase 1 renovations aimed at special‑education space.
During Budget Work Session No. 4, the Bay Shore Union Free School District staff reviewed key budget pressures, capital planning and facility projects as the board moved toward a balanced 2025‑26 budget.
The presenter said BOCES tuition costs have been escalating and that the district moved $1,000,000 from special‑education tuition codes into BOCES to cover increased enrollments. "This is going to be tight for next year," the presenter said, urging expenditure control across the district.
On facilities, staff reported $13 million already set aside for buildings projects and estimated roughly $8.5 million more is needed to cover prioritized items; after removing lower‑priority projects the presenter said funded needs would fall to under $3 million from the general fund. Staff described Phase 1 middle‑school renovations—removal of interior walls and conversion of space for updated special‑education facilities—as achievable over the summer, with Phase 2 (tech room upgrades and new home‑careers space) requiring more extensive planning the following year.
The presenter also discussed reallocating funds into debt service for an Energy Performance Contract (EPC), explaining that future energy savings will be offset by debt payments tied to the project. Employee benefits were a noted pressure point: the presenter said $500,000 of available funds were moved into FICA and Medicare categories as rates change.
Board members discussed cornice repairs on a historically significant building and state guidance that replacement materials be "in kind," and staff said they are exploring in‑house options to control costs. Staff summarized remaining work: approximately $2 million remains to be allocated for salaries at the next meeting and, with that allocation, the budget is expected to balance.
No budget adoption occurred at the work session; staff will return with further refinements and final salary recommendations.
