Boquet Valley CSD proposes 5.21% spending increase; tax levy set at 3.06%

Boquet Valley Central School District administrators presented a proposed 2025–26 spending plan that would increase overall expenditures by 5.21% and raise the tax levy by 3.06, the board heard at its public hearing. Speaker Josh, the district’s presenting administrator, said the budget uses a 2% minimum foundation aid figure from the final New York State budget and that the district plans to use $0 from its unrestricted fund balance.

Josh said the headline increase looks large in part because two planned bus purchases were moved from program to capital at the state’s direction, which inflates the capital line even though the underlying expenses themselves did not change. “If I took that away, the increase is much smaller, just at around 3 or 4%,” Amy, the district finance presenter, said during the line-by-line review.

Administrators flagged statewide pressures that are affecting local numbers: a phased increase in the BOCES aidable salary cap (moving toward $60,000 by 2028–29), sharp insurance cost increases for many districts, and contractual salary obligations. The presentation noted the district remains within the state tax-cap framework and used merger-related efficiencies and reserves to avoid tapping the unrestricted fund balance this year.

The board was shown town-by-town equalization comparisons and historical levy rates; Josh emphasized that assessment timing across towns affects the local rate per $1,000 of assessed value. The board scheduled the public budget vote for May 20 at the Lakeview Campus; the district will seek voter approval of the budget and several reserve-funded equipment purchases.