Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Budget update: tax-cap math, $944K building-aid drop and a $2.7–3.0M gap
Summary
Business official reviewed the 2026–27 revenue picture: tax-cap mechanics, a small 1% hold-harmless state aid bump for Eden, a projected $944,000 decrease in state aid mostly from reduced building aid, and a preliminary $2.7–3.0M budget gap to be addressed on the expenditure side.
The board received a revenue-focused budget update for the 2026–27 school year that centered on the tax-cap calculation and state-aid projections.
"For the property tax cap calculation for the 2627 school year budget, we always start with the lesser of 2% or CPI... Since CPI is above 2%... we're capped at that 2%." Ms. May explained the baseline and the tax-based growth factor (0.07%), plus the capital tax levy exclusion that raised the district's threshold to about 2.52 percent. She also summarized the governor's executive budget proposal, noting Eden qualifies for a 1% hold-harmless increase in foundation aid (about $95,000).
May said the district expects a $944,000 drop in overall state aid, driven largely by a decline in deferred building aid; at the same time, local revenue lines such as Erie County sales tax and pilot payments were shown as small increases. Combining these assumptions with current expenditure estimates leaves a roughly $2.7–3.0 million budget gap before expenditure reductions.
Board members discussed next steps: an expenditure deep dive at the next session, how much to rely on reserves (staff suggested using about $600,000 of fund balance but preserving savings for future uncertainties), and what level of tax-levy increase the board would be comfortable considering. No final levy decision was made at the meeting.
