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District outlines a 2.76% budget, May 19 vote; bus purchase and tax-cap options highlighted
Summary
On March 26 the Manchester-Shortsville Central School District presented a near-final 2026–27 budget that would carry a 2.76% tax levy increase, outlined a bus purchase proposition and set a calendar for public hearings and a May 19 vote; administrators said additional state aid or fund-balance moves could reduce taxes.
The Manchester-Shortsville Central School District Board of Education on March 26 reviewed a near-final 2026–27 budget that would require a 2.76% tax levy increase and scheduled the formal adoption discussion for April 9 and a district-wide vote for May 19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the auditorium foyer, district budget lead Tim said.
Tim placed the draft budget in context, saying the district could ask for up to a 4.1% levy increase without triggering a supermajority requirement but that any levy above the statutory cap would require a 60% plus one vote to pass. He also summarized the budget calendar: legal notices and petition deadlines in April, a budget hearing May 7 and the vote May 19.
Why it matters: the board faces declining enrollment and constrained resources while trying to preserve programming. Tim told the board the administration had identified roughly $185,700 in reductions since February that did not involve cutting personnel or supplies and cited a projected increase of about $276,000 in special-education aid as easing pressure on the levy. The board also plans to appropriate $135,000 from fund balance to help balance next year’s revenue and expenditures.
Details and what was proposed: Tim described a transportation proposition to buy two 65‑passenger diesel buses at about $412,000 and said the district expects to recover approximately 90% of that purchase through transportation aid, characterizing the proposal as covered by existing funds with no direct tax impact. He said the district will use a tablet check-in system at the vote to improve accuracy on voter records.
Board members asked how the district would handle a state budget timing mismatch and whether to appropriate extra fund balance or later return money if state aid increases. Tim said the likely approach would be to appropriate fund balance now and, if extra state aid arrives, move it into reserves or otherwise adjust later through standard board actions.
Next steps: the administration will present the formal adoption resolution at the April 9 meeting and make the proposed budget documents available to the public (hard copies will be posted in district buildings and the library). The budget hearing is set for May 7; the public vote is May 19.
