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Budget chief warns of multimillion‑dollar gap; board urged to prepare for difficult choices
Summary
Business presenter Mr. Burlet told the board the district is watching state aid and aid‑ratio shifts and said projected revenue/expense math leaves a multimillion‑dollar gap (he cited both $3.9M and a summarized $5.5M figure). He outlined a timeline (state aid update March 9/April 1, budget adoption April 20, hearing May 11) and recommended "bend the system, not break the system" strategies that include not filling certain vacancies and reviewing BOCES services.
Mr. Burlet, the district's budget presenter, gave a detailed review of the 2026–27 budget outlook and the state timeline. He said the governor's preliminary budget proposal includes a 1% foundation aid increase and an increase in UPK funding, but that shifts in aid ratios and local wealth measures create headwinds for the district.
"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, later summarizing the broader picture as "that's a $5,500,000 gap." He explained the district's four revenue 'buckets' (special aid, enterprise/service funds, capital, general operating fund) and warned that declining aid ratios (building aid, BOCES, transportation) and pressure on expense drivers — collective bargaining, TRS/ERS, and insurance — will make balancing difficult.
Burlet walked the board through mitigation options and a preferred principle: "bend the system, not break the system." Specific approaches include holding open vacancies where possible, reviewing BOCES services for efficiency, shifting positions by certification rather than hiring immediately for newly vacated roles, and preserving capital debt capacity so the district can continue necessary project work. He identified key upcoming dates for district budgeting: a state aid update in early March, a formal budget adoption in April and a public budget hearing and votes in May.
Board members asked what community members could do; the administration said it would circulate legislators' names and urged advocacy beyond the proposed 1% increase. "We'll be sending a list of our legislators here out so that you could do advocacy efforts with them," the administration said, and noted planned advocacy visits to Albany at the end of February/beginning of March.
