District finance team warns of multimillion‑dollar gap as state aid projections lag

Mr. Burlet, introduced by the chair as the budget presenter, walked the board through the state budget timeline (key dates including an April 1 state aid update and final budget timing in May) and the district’s two largest revenue sources: the tax levy and state aid. He described four fund 'buckets' (special aid/grants, food service, capital and the general operating fund), highlighted modest projected state aid increases under the governor’s first proposal (about 1% for hold‑harmless districts) and said shifting aid ratios (building, transportation, BOCES) reduce expected aid in some areas. “We went in knowing we're gonna have about a $3,900,000 gap that we're plugging with reserves and fund balance,” he said.

Burlet outlined expense drivers — contract negotiations (2–5%), pension/ERS and TRS contributions, health and commercial insurance changes, and debt service — and described mitigation strategies the district is pursuing: monthly finance committee work, targeted use of reserves, careful management of open positions and a line‑by‑line review of BOCES services. He emphasized the goal to ‘‘bend the system, not break the system’’ by finding reductions that do not harm student programming and said board and administration will return with more refined proposals after the March state aid update and finance committee review.