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Hamburg board hears $923,661 projected shortfall as staff present 2026–27 expenditure plan
Summary
At a March 12 budget workshop, district staff told the Hamburg Central School District board the draft 2026–27 budget shows a $923,661 shortfall, explained the final tax-cap calculation (3.48% limit), and recommended using reserves for planned debt service and employee-liability payments. The board approved several routine motions and authorized a capital reserve proposition for the May ballot.
The Hamburg Central School District board received an update March 12 on the 2026–27 draft budget that shows a current revenue–expenditure gap of $923,661.
District business staff walked the board through the expenditure side of the budget at a public workshop held at Union Pleasant. Christine, who led the tax-cap and revenue presentation, described the tax-cap formula and the components that produced the district’s levy projections. "The levy before the adjustment and exclusion is 42,763,561," she said, adding the capital tax levy for 2026 increased to "3,354,684" after the district accounted for changes to capital project debt and aid; staff calculated a final tax-levy limit of "3.48%."
The revenue presentation highlighted a mix of recurring and one-time items. Staff attributed most of the year-over-year revenue variance to one-time proceeds in the current year (a Boston Valley land sale of $475,000) and a smaller projected property sale of $150,000 in the coming year. State building and transportation aid increases tied to the capital project and higher reported expenses were also cited as reasons for higher state aid estimates.
On the expense side, staff identified the largest drivers: contractual salaries (an increase of roughly $781,000), special-education placements and tuition, higher debt service tied to the ongoing capital project, pension changes (the employees’ retirement system up, teachers’ retirement system down), a conservative 5% health-insurance projection, and a cautious 4% estimate for transportation pending April CPI and bus contract renewals.
Administrators described a planned use of reserves to smooth tax impacts and pay near-term debt-service obligations: $600,000 from a debt-service reserve and the use of employee-benefit reserves to cover retiree payouts. Staff emphasized the district’s goal of maintaining an unassigned fund balance target (approximately 4%) and said allocations to capital reserve, ERS, or other restricted reserves would be reviewed with the finance committee.
Board members asked for clarifications on PILOT receipts, Medicaid billing procedures for high-cost students, and how transportation estimates were constructed. Christine and Mr. Adams said the district contracts with an outside billing firm (MAG) to manage Medicaid claims and that transportation estimates include fuel, parent contracts and software licensing; they noted the district will update figures after CPI and contract information is finalized in April.
Votes and motions The board moved through a set of routine and recommended actions after the workshop. - An MOA with the Hamburg Teachers Association regarding return-to-school timing for the 2026–27 year was approved (motion made by Tom; second recorded). The agreement passed by voice vote. - The district approved the proposed 2026–27 school-year calendar (mover: Jess; second: Tom). - The board adopted a resolution declaring the proposed middle-school ceiling and LED lighting capital outlay to be a "Type II" action under SEQR and authorized inclusion of funding for the project in the 2026–27 budget. The resolution passed after one board member voiced opposition during the vote (opposition was recorded on the public voice vote but a specific name was not recorded in the meeting transcript). - The board approved an amendment to the Turner Construction contract associated with the 2021 capital project and authorized a proposition to form a capital improvement reserve fund that will appear on the May 19, 2026 ballot (10-year, $10 million authorization language presented for voter consideration). - The board approved an intermunicipal agreement with North Collins Central School District and renewed transportation contracts with Student Transportation of America for current services.
What happens next Staff said the district will incorporate updated state aid runs (expected in early April), finalize the remaining expenditure details and continue to refine transportation and insurance estimates; those updates will feed into the April budget book and finance-committee discussions. The board also scheduled outreach and voter information for the capital reserve proposition ahead of the May 19 ballot.
"We want to keep the community informed," Mr. Adams said during the meeting. "We look forward to presenting the information and the discussions that will follow."
