Brunswick Central proposes $32.63 million budget, asks voters to OK 3.55% tax-levy increase

The Brunswick Central School District presented a $32,632,448 spending plan for 2026–27 and asked residents to vote on the proposal on May 19. “We hope everyone will come out and vote and support the budget,” said Stephanie, who led the presentation, outlining purchases that include two new school buses and a $100,000 capital outlay request.

Administrators told the board that the proposal would go to the voters at a 3.55% tax-levy increase, the maximum allowed under the state tax-cap formula. The district said the budget increases about $1.8 million from the current year and represents a 5.87% change in expenditures, while the tax-levy request remains at the tax-cap figure of 3.55%.

Officials emphasized that personnel costs and benefits are the largest portion of spending and a primary driver of increases. The presentation cited health-insurance changes this year — roughly a 5% increase for one plan, about 7% for another and a 14% increase for pharmaceuticals — and noted that a family plan premium totals about $41,000 annually. The administrators added that much of the budget is influenced by ERS and TRS retirement-rate volatility, over which the district has little control.

Special education was flagged as the most volatile part of the budget: the district currently serves 155 students in Committee on Special Education programs (about 13% of enrollment), and the cost of individual outplacements can be high. “Some of those programs can come with a price tag of upwards of $200,000,” the presenter said, noting that a single placement change can swing the budget.

On the revenue side, trustees were told the district expects increased building aid after closing out a $25 million capital project this year, which helps offset debt-service pressures. Administrators also credited a state proposal that would raise universal prekindergarten funding from roughly $5,500 to $10,000 per pupil as providing significant relief for the district’s three UPK classrooms; if enrollment meets expectations, local share for UPK would be minimal.

Board members questioned the administration’s planned use of fund balance to balance the budget. The administration said it expects to use just under $1 million of unassigned fund balance plus available reserves where allowable and stressed that certain reserves (for example, capital reserves) are restricted for specific uses.

The district plans to mail a budget newsletter and post the full budget presentation and a long-range financial plan online with a QR code for voters ahead of the May 19 vote.

What’s next: the budget vote is scheduled for May 19, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the district multipurpose gym.