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Ithaca board adopts $177.64M budget with 3.4% tax levy after lengthy debate
Summary
After extended debate over tax‑levy levels and use of fund balance, the Ithaca City School District board adopted a $177,638,041 budget for 2026–27 reflecting a 3.4% tax‑levy increase; trustees discussed using reserve funds to reduce taxpayer burden and previewed a multi‑year forecasting tool for public use.
The Ithaca City School District Board of Education voted to adopt a $177,638,041 budget for the 2026–27 school year, reflecting a 3.4% tax‑levy increase. Administration demonstrated an interactive, public web tool that models multi‑year budget projections, tax‑rate impacts, and fund‑balance trajectories; the presentation emphasized transparency and the ability for residents to test variables such as state aid growth, projected underspending and levy percentage.
Board members engaged in a prolonged discussion about the district’s fiscal posture: Dr. Brown and business staff said adopting the levy at the allowed cap (4.18%) would preserve fund balance for multi‑year planning, while several trustees pushed for an immediate reduction to provide taxpayer relief. One board member proposed tapping fund balance for a one‑time reduction; others warned that repeated draws could compound future levy pressure. Trustees debated process concerns and whether the board had sufficient committee‑level input on budget priorities before tonight’s vote.
Despite divergent views, a motion to adopt the reported budget at $177,638,041 and a 3.4% levy (moved and seconded) passed after public and trustee discussion; some trustees abstained, and one trustee explained an abstention citing concerns about board process and the need for more public, board‑level deliberation on spending priorities.
Why it matters: The adopted levy and budget set the district’s tax request to voters and will shape instructional staffing, services and capital planning; the interactive tool and the multi‑day debate signaled the board’s interest in balancing taxpayer relief with long‑term fiscal health.
Next steps: Administration will publish the budget materials and the interactive tool for the community; the adopted budget and property tax report card will be used for the May 19 vote cycle.
