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North Rose‑Wolcott budget hearing: district outlines roughly $1.9 million shortfall, proposes reductions and reserve use
Summary
At a required budget hearing, the district presented a maintenance‑based budget and said grant reductions created an estimated shortfall of about $1.9 million; administrators proposed $844,000 in cuts and using reserves while keeping the tax levy at the 3.37% cap and placing bus replacement and the budget on the May 19 ballot.
Director of Business Operations and Finance de Blasio presented the district’s maintenance‑based budget and described a projected shortfall under baseline revenue assumptions. “We’re not here to tell people to vote yes. We’re not here to tell people to vote no,” de Blasio said, framing the presentation as informational for voters.
The administration said grant funding that previously supported positions and programs is declining and that the district faces a projected shortfall of about $1,900,000 under its first revenue projection (which assumes no increase in state aid or levy beyond the cap). De Blasio outlined two revenue scenarios: one that assumes a 2% rise in foundation aid and the other that applies the local 3.37% tax‑levy cap, which he said would yield roughly $388,500.
To reduce the gap, the administration proposed $844,000 in reductions across administrative, teaching, and support positions (including anticipated savings from retirements). After those reductions the presentation showed a proposed budget figure of $39,080,000 with the remaining shortfall to be covered by fund balance/reserves, a decision the administration characterized as drawing on prior boards’ prudent savings.
De Blasio walked the board through major spending categories — instruction, employee benefits, transportation and central services — noting that instruction is the largest share and that employee benefits are the second‑largest cost driver. He warned that rising health insurance and transportation costs continue to pressure the budget.
The administration also identified ballot propositions for the upcoming vote: the budget vote itself (noted as May 19 at North Rose‑Wilkett High School, 12–8 p.m.), library propositions administered separately by the libraries, and a vehicle proposition to replace buses (three 35‑passenger small buses and two full‑size 64‑passenger buses) with an estimated ‘not to exceed’ figure of $925,000.
Superintendent Pollan closed the hearing after inviting questions; no public questions were raised during the hearing and the board did not vote on the budget that evening. The administration emphasized the figures and proposals were subject to change depending on final state aid and other staffing changes before the final budget vote.
The board subsequently approved routine agenda items and moved on to other matters; motions to approve the meeting agenda and the consent agenda were carried earlier in the meeting.
