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Board previews $227M draft budget, cites benefits and special-education costs as main drivers
Summary
Workshops 1 and 2 produced a combined draft budget just over $227 million (3.10% increase). District staff said 52% of the increase is benefits (health and pensions), with special education, transportation and utilities also driving the change; adoption is scheduled for April 14 and the public vote for May 19.
District business official Mr. Freeman presented the combined draft budget from Workshops 1 and 2 as slightly over $227 million, a 3.10 percent increase (about $6.8 million) over the prior year. He told the board that roughly 52 percent of the increase stems from benefits — primarily health insurance and pension costs — and that other major drivers include transportation costs, special-education BOCES tuition increases and higher utility and buildings-and-grounds expense.
Mr. Freeman reviewed line-item changes the board will see in Workshop 3, including the effect of position moves (two directors moved into building administration) and modest shifts in BOCES, instructional and non-instructional salaries. He also explained that certain equipment and software lines receive one-for-one state aid reimbursement (textbooks and some equipment/software), while other increases (BOCES services, fiber, software) are harder to offset.
The board set the immediate timeline: Workshop 3 on April 7, budget adoption April 14, budget materials published May 1, the public hearing May 5 and the budget vote May 19. The meeting closed after a short Golden Apple video honoring Peggy Garitano and a motion — moved by Carol, seconded by Maria — to adjourn, which the board approved by voice vote.
No budget adoption occurred at the workshop; staff will return with final state-aid numbers and BOCES price confirmations.
