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Board places audit surplus into non-lapsing account and amends funding source for SP+A facilities study
Summary
Trustees voted unanimously to move $2,863 from the 2024–25 audit into the Board’s non-lapsing account and approved an amendment allowing up to $28,500 for the Silver Petrucelli & Associates facilities study to come from either the non-lapsing account or surplus maintenance funds; the SP+A amendment passed 6–1.
The New Hartford Board of Education on May 5 voted to place $2,863 from the 2024–25 audit into its non-lapsing account and approved a separate amendment to broaden funding options for a facilities study by Silver Petrucelli & Associates (SP+A).
On the audit motion, Timothy Russell moved and the board voted unanimously to transfer $2,863 into the Board of Education’s non-lapsing account.
Separately, Superintendent Jeffrey Sousa explained the request to amend a prior December 15, 2025 motion to allow greater financial flexibility for the SP+A contract because of cost savings. "The request is to have a revised motion ... to use either $28,500 from the non-lapsing account or surplus funds from the maintenance line in the current 25–26 operating budget to fund the SP+A contract," Sousa said.
Kirby Morante moved the amendment and it passed 6–1, with Thomas Buzzi recorded as the sole vote against the motion. The amendment leaves available either the non-lapsing account or surplus maintenance funds to cover up to $28,500 for the facilities study so the district preserves some non-lapsing funds as a reserve in case of emergency.
Why it matters: the SP+A School Facility Utilization study will inform long-term decisions about school programming and capacity. The board’s decision preserves flexibility in how the district pays for the study while keeping some non-lapsing reserves available.
The board also discussed that certified salaries are under budget (about $150,000), in part because of unpaid medical leaves and changes in outplacements; that line and other surplus funds informed the broader funding conversation. The board did not change tax or operating appropriations at the May 5 meeting.
