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Penfield district presents roughly $136 million 2026–27 budget; vote set for May 19
Summary
District administrators told the board the proposed 2026–27 spending plan would be about $136 million (a $7.3 million, ~5.7% increase), outlined revenue sources and tax‑levy calculations, and previewed a $2.3 million bus‑purchase proposition that will appear on the May 19 ballot.
Penfield Central School District leaders presented the proposed 2026–27 spending plan on May 5, saying it would total a little over $136 million and represent roughly a $7.3 million (about 5.7%) year‑over‑year increase. Board President Dr. El Malia Elamine Turner opened the statutorily required budget hearing and reminded voters that the budget vote and board elections will take place Tuesday, May 19, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high‑school gym.
Dr. Dan Driff, who led the budget detail presentation, said the district holds a strong fiscal position: Penfield has an AA2 credit rating and no designation under the Office of the State Comptroller’s fiscal stress monitor. “The overall budget‑to‑budget increase is $7.3 million, bringing our school budget next year to a little over $136 million,” Dr. Driff said.
Administrators said the bulk of spending is for employee salaries and benefits (wages were presented at about $63 million next year) and that health‑insurance premiums, utilities and pension contribution increases are key cost drivers. The presentation also outlined planned capital and facility investments including a renovated high‑school library, a new IT center, STEM space additions, field lighting and roof replacements.
On the revenue side, district staff said the largest funding source remains the local real‑property tax levy, with New York State education aid contributing roughly 36% of the budget. Dr. Driff described several aid categories — foundation aid, BOCES and transportation aid, excess‑cost aid for special education and building aid tied to capital projects — and noted that some figures depend on state budget actions and final cost reports.
Officials described the local levy‑limit (tax cap) calculation and equalization impacts across the district’s six towns, saying the district’s maximum allowable levy for next year is roughly $76.7 million (a $3.1 million, about 4.3% increase). Because towns across two counties use different equalization rates, homeowners in different municipalities can see different tax rates even when school tax amounts are economically equivalent.
The administration also previewed the ballot propositions for May 19: the operating budget; a bus purchase proposition to buy 14 replacement buses at an aggregate cost of $2.3 million (nine large diesel and five mini gasoline buses, one wheelchair accessible) to be funded from the 2024 bus reserve and eligible for state transportation aid; and the election of two board members to three‑year terms.
District leaders emphasized that the proposed budget maintains current staffing and programming and uses assigned fund balance conservatively (presentation material showed an assigned fund‑balance utilization of about 1.55% of the budget). The next formal step is the public vote on May 19; administrators reminded residents where and when polls will be open.
What happens next: The district will hold the budget and school board vote on May 19. If voters approve the propositions, the district will proceed with the planned bus purchases and fiscal year operations as presented.
