Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Avon board approves legal notice for May 20 budget vote after budget presentation shows reserves shrinking
Summary
The Avon Central School District presented the proposed 2025–26 budget, detailing transportation, debt-service plans and projected reserve use; the board approved the legal notice for the May 20 budget vote with one abstention.
The Avon Central School Board on March 10 reviewed a budget presentation that included public forum dates, a proposed extension of the transportation contract, debt-service planning for serial bonds and short-term borrowing tied to the district's current capital project, and a forecast showing multi-year reserve drawdowns that staff called unsustainable under current assumptions.
Business Manager Kristen Murphy and Superintendent Ryan Pacatte outlined the schedule for public forums (March 13 at 5:30 PM; March 20 at 6:00 PM; April 1 at 5:00 PM) and said the district seeks to extend the transportation contract with C&F Transportation. They told the board that short-term borrowing costs for the current capital project are expected to be covered in part by projected building aid and a transfer from the debt service fund. The presentation also noted that employee-benefit costs are rising in line with recent salary increases and summarized federal and state grants supporting current operations.
The presentation included slides on reserves showing the current balances as of January 31, 2025 and projected reserve usage over the next three years; board materials and staff cautioned that the multi-year projection would be unsustainable if certain variables do not change. During public comment Amanda Schroeder asked, “whether the district plans to spend down to nothing?” District leaders responded that the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) includes plans to "right size" reserves and that amounts to be retained vary by reserve type.
After the discussion the board voted to approve the legal notice with propositions for the May 20, 2025 budget vote and election. The motion carried with 4 Ayes, 0 Nays and 1 Abstain (Board member Mike Carroll). The board also approved the 2025–26 instructional calendar, which includes a professional development day on May 15 to correspond with the local Special Olympics and an early dismissal on May 19 for the budget vote and election; both calendar motions carried unanimously.
