Olean board adopts 2026–27 budget with no tax‑levy increase

The Olean City School District Board of Education voted April 21 to adopt the 2026–27 budget, approving a $943,000 increase — about 1.63% over the current year — while keeping the tax levy flat.

Jenny Batada, the district’s business administrator, told the board the budget balances program needs against local taxpayer impact. "We have achieved that," Batada said, summarizing a package of spending reductions, reserve uses and anticipated state and BOCES aid that together preserve programs without increasing the levy.

Why it matters: the budget funds curricular investments already in progress, covers rising salary and benefit costs and preserves extracurricular and special‑education services, administrators said. Batada told the board the district identified roughly $2.9 million in expenditure reductions and will not refill about 5.4 full‑time‑equivalent positions through attrition; she emphasized that no layoffs were planned and that vacancies would be reviewed before being filled.

Key figures and tradeoffs: the budget projects a modest overall increase even as the district trims operating costs. Batada cited a $1.7 million reduction in debt service after an earlier bond payoff, an expected increase in transportation aid to offset special‑education busing costs, and an uptick in BOCES expenses this year that will generate matching BOCES aid in the following year. Health insurance and retirement contributions account for the largest benefit increases in the plan.

The board discussed contingent‑budget rules should voters reject the plan, administrative‑cap constraints and the timing uncertainty caused by the State’s delayed budget. Batada told members that if the State finalizes higher aid after local adoption, the district cannot increase expenditures but may rely less on reserves previously planned for use.

Board action and next steps: after the presentation and questions, the board adopted the budget by voice vote on the floor (motion: Item R). The transcript records the motion and that it carried; a public tally by name was not recorded in the meeting transcript. Administrators will publish the final budget materials and proceed to the public hearing and vote schedule as posted.

What to watch: staffing changes implemented through attrition and the district’s use of reserves will appear in next year’s accounting; the district will also monitor state aid developments and the timing of BOCES aid that follows certain expenditures the district will make this year.