Saranac Lake board approves $38.1M budget, OKs reserve plan and tax report

SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake Central School District board approved a bundle of fiscal measures after public comment and administrative presentation, including budget transfers, a fiscal reserve plan, a $38,100,000 school budget and the district’s property tax report card.

The business office described several transfers needed to cover costs, including two transfers above the $10,000 threshold: one to cover substitute teachers and teaching-assistant payroll at the high school and another to reclassify equipment purchase funds to repair the bus garage’s in-floor lift. Resolution 095, approving the presented budgetary transfers, was moved, seconded and approved during the meeting; the transcript records at least one vocal opposition but no roll-call tally was given.

The board then considered the district’s fiscal reserve plan for 2025–26 covering capital reserve, transportation and maintenance/equipment reserves. The business office and counsel explained that if the related voter propositions fail, existing funds remain restricted to their assigned purposes and could not be shifted without voter approval. Resolution 096 to approve the reserve plan was adopted with no recorded discussion.

During the budget hearing the board affirmed the total budget amount of $38,100,000 and discussed how the district intends to use fund balance and federal grants. The administration said fund-balance appropriation planning was increased from about $1.1 million to $1.5 million with the expectation that incoming federal funds could reduce reliance on reserves. Board members also discussed rising insurance costs — the meeting noted a health-insurance increase of roughly $700,000 — and longer-term enrollment-driven shortfalls.

After approving the budget, the board approved Resolution 098 to submit the district’s property tax report card to New York State; the report incorporates the approved budget and anticipated uses for proposed transportation propositions. The board also approved an amended 2025–26 school calendar (Resolution 099) addressing winter carnival date changes and how regional exam days count toward instructional hours.

Board members framed the votes as necessary steps to balance immediate fiscal needs and legal reporting requirements; the board did not record itemized vote tallies in the transcript beyond some vocalized opposition.

What happens next: The district will submit its tax-report card to the state as approved, proceed with capital project permitting for proposed field lighting, and incorporate the approved budget and reserve plan into next year’s financial operations. Any change to voter propositions would keep reserve funds restricted to their assigned purposes until voters approve reallocation.