Webster Central outlines 3.1% budget increase and three propositions ahead of May 19 vote

The Webster Central School District opened its required public budget hearing on May 5, presenting a proposed 2026-27 budget that the district described as a 3.1% increase over the current year.

The district's presenter, identified in the meeting as Mr. Freeman, told the board and public the budget follows New York State's three-part structure—program, administrative and capital—and that program spending accounts for roughly 78% of the total. He said the district's revenue assumptions include a 2.9% increase in foundation aid and higher building-aid receipts that help offset debt service.

The proposal includes three propositions to appear on the May 19 ballot. Proposition 1 is a capital outlay allocation that would fund improvements at Willink Middle School, including a transfer of $100,000 for cafetorium work and potential gymnasium electrical upgrades if bids are favorable. Proposition 2 would transfer funds into a capital project for energy-savings work at Webster Thomas (lighting upgrades, panel replacements and localized HVAC), a plan the district called budget neutral because it offsets earlier reductions. Proposition 3 is the renewal and expansion of the district's capital reserve (a 10-year term) to better match the scale of needs across 14 buildings and reduce the district's local share on future projects.

Freeman also explained the contingent-budget rules under state law: if voters reject the proposal and it is not re-adopted on a second vote, the district would be required to adopt a contingent budget with no increase in the tax levy compared with 2025-26. That process typically forces reductions in equipment purchases, facility rentals and certain program lines; the presenter estimated potential reductions in excess of $2 million in discretionary items under a strict contingent scenario. He emphasized that the district aims to maintain health and safety and core instructional programs in any contingency decisions.

Board members asked procedural clarifying questions and sought a correction to one slide that showed an incorrect calendar date; the presenter confirmed the vote date is May 19. The district said the full presentation will be posted online.

Next steps: the budget is scheduled for a public vote on May 19 at Webster Schrader from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (as stated during the meeting). The hearing was opened and closed by board motion during the May 5 meeting; any further questions for district staff can be submitted to the district before the vote.

Notes on sourcing and uncertainties: the meeting transcript records the presenter as "Freeman"; a full first name or title was not provided in the transcript segments. Specific dollar amounts for some line items (beyond percentages and the district's $3,000,000 reserve allocation example) were discussed but not all individual line-item totals were specified in the public remarks.