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Board hears deep dive on 2026–27 expenditures, reserves and options for closing budget gap
Summary
District presenters outlined expenditure drivers for the 2026–27 budget — salary and benefits increases, special-education tuition and BOCES costs — and said the district plans to use roughly $1.35 million in reserves while the remaining budget gap could require levy choices or other measures.
District staff opened a budget workshop presentation showing historical and budgeted expenditure trends for the 2026–27 school year and said salary and contractual increases are the primary drivers of the gap. The presenter told the board: "So overall about a $328,000 increase year to year," and attributed much of that change to contractual salary steps and retirements that affect 'breakage.'
The presentation broke down categories: equipment and bus purchases sit in separate propositions, contractual costs (including property insurance and utilities), about $50,000 in materials-and-supplies increases, and an anticipated $176,000 rise in out‑of‑district tuition for students with special‑education needs. Staff said the district expects to use approximately $1,350,000 of reserves and roughly $1.9 million when including separate bus purchases. Members discussed that state aid under the governor's executive proposal was effectively flat and weighed whether to use more reserves or pursue a higher tax levy in May. The board set a follow-up budget workshop for March 23 to continue closing the gap and review levy options.
