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Trumansburg board presents $33.34 million 2026–27 budget, says levy stays within tax cap
Summary
School business official Amanda Verba presented a $33,341,081 proposed budget for 2026–27, a 3.8% increase; the district says state aid rose about 1% ($97,000), the levy remains within the tax cap (3.83%), and the plan uses reserves and staffing efficiencies to balance the budget.
Amanda Verba, the district’s school business executive, presented the proposed 2026–27 budget of $33,341,081 and said the district will seek voter approval for that “not‑to‑exceed” figure.
Verba told the board the proposal represents a 3.8% increase over the current year and reflects constrained state aid — “we are still funded at a 1% state aid from last year to this year,” she said — roughly $97,000 on a roughly $33 million budget. She emphasized the levy remains inside the allowable tax cap and said the district is “not going above the tax cap.” The presentation notes that without planned efficiencies the district would have faced a much larger increase.
The budget relies in part on fund balance and targeted staffing changes to balance revenues and expenses. Verba said the board increased the portion of savings applied to the budget and described reductions: several currently open positions will remain vacant and some nonessential BOCES services were reviewed for cost savings. She said, if the district had made no changes, the budget could have increased about 7.5% year‑to‑year.
Verba also described required and helpful public materials: a mailed budget booklet and an extensive budget web page with live links to previous presentations, detailed budget documents and audit reports. The district said printed copies are available on request and that voter eligibility and absentee/early voting information is posted online.
Board members and staff flagged three propositions on the ballot: Proposition 1 is the budget authorization (the not‑to‑exceed amount), Proposition 2 would fund two ultra low‑emission propane school buses (the district is conducting a NYSERDA study on fleet electrification and has applied for a two‑year waiver), and Proposition 3 is a library levy collection request the district will present to voters.
Verba and the board announced community conversations and in‑person information sessions (May 12 and May 13) for residents to ask questions about the budget. Staff said they will circulate links and voter instructions and try to expand outreach to residents who do not use social media.
The board adjourned to the annual budget hearing at 05:32 and later reconvened for regular business; the budget will go to voters as provided by law.
