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Preliminary 2026–27 budget shows roughly $3.5 million gap, Mrs. May tells board
Summary
Mrs. May presented a preliminary budget overview showing an estimated $3.5 million gap under a 0% levy scenario; state aid is preliminarily down about $900,000 (mainly from building aid) and debt service is falling by about $1.6 million.
Mrs. May presented the board with a high-level, preliminary review of revenue and expenditures for the 2026–27 school year and warned the numbers are highly estimated until state runs and tax-cap factors are finalized. She emphasized the presentation was an early look and said key variables remain unresolved ahead of next steps.
On revenue, Mrs. May said state aid estimates (November runs) showed no preliminary increase in foundation aid and an overall decline of roughly $900,000, primarily because deferred building aid rolled off. She explained transportation and BOCES aid are expenditure-driven and noted those lines can change based on current-year spending. On the levy side she noted the tax-cap calculation compares CPI and a 2% floor; with CPI currently near 3% she said the district would be limited by the 2% factor unless the state provides different guidance.
On expenditures, Mrs. May said contractual rollover for wages is about $1,260,000; benefits will rise (she cited a $639,000 increase linked to higher wages); equipment shows a roughly $600,000 increase (noting school bus purchases); and debt service is projected to decrease by about $1,600,000, reflecting short-term notes used in the prior year. She gave a preliminary worst-case estimate of about a $3,500,000 budget gap under a 0% levy scenario but said the figure should narrow as negotiations conclude and state aid is finalized.
"So right now, we're looking at about a 3,500,000 or $3,500,000 budget gap, with a 0% tax levy increase," Mrs. May said. Board members asked questions about the tax-cap math and 'save harmless' treatments; Mrs. May and the superintendent said the district will refine revenue and expenditure assumptions once the governor's executive proposal and official CPI figures are released.
Next steps she listed included completing the property tax cap calculation (due to New York State March 1), reviewing the governor's budget runs (expected end of January), and holding deeper meetings with principals and department heads to vet requested budget items.
