The Board of Education election and 2024-2025 budget vote are fast approaching on May 21. The budget process is year-long, and involves countless hours of work by District employees, the Board of Education, and community representatives. The Board of Education hosted three public budget workshops on February 6, February 27, and March 12. The Budget was adopted by the Board at its April 16 meeting and will be presented to the voters on May 21. The proposed budget is $161,797,787, and the tax levy increase is within the New York State tax cap. The following budget guidelines were developed for, and adhered to in creating the proposed budget:

• Develop a student based budget focused on: safe and secure school environment and facilities; implementation of rigorous, engaging, equitable, and authentic curriculum, instruction, assessments, and resources that maintain excellence while supporting responsive and relevant offerings; providing experiences, both curricular and extracurricular, that support the varied interests and abilities of the whole child; increased accessibility and appropriate staffing, to support district technology initiative; equity and inclusion practices; social emotional learning and mental health supports; and supporting diverse academic needs.
   
• Provide high quality professional learning focused on: tiered supports to address range of learners in the classroom; curriculum, assessment, grading and instructional practices; equity and inclusion practices aligned with District goals; professional learning communities; social emotional and mental health learning; safety preparedness; and continuous improvement for instructional and non-instructional staff members.
   
• Balance the investment in education with sensitivity to limited community resources by: balancing community expectations for services and programs, with the need to be cognizant of changes in property values, income levels, new state/federal tax law, and other economic uncertainties; engaging in thoughtful long range financial planning; working collaboratively with local partners/districts to share services; sustaining transportation reserve for planning for electric busses/vehicles; planning for the cessation of federal funds and impact on minimum wage compression; seeking innovative sources of revenue; recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse employees of the highest caliber; seeking efficiencies to further mitigate the burdensome and financial impact of underfunded and unfunded mandates.
   
• Maintain fiscal stability now and into the future through: financially prudent and sustainable reserve accounts; partnerships, shared services, and audits; protecting and maintaining the District’s Aa1 bond rating; protecting the community’s investment in facilities and infrastructure; and advocacy with legislators relative to appropriate levels of funding.
   
• Meet legal mandates and contractual obligations

In addition to voting on the proposed budget and three Board seats, community members will also be asked to vote on three propositions, none of which will result in an increase in the tax levy or the issuance of new debt:

• Proposition 1: Authorization to withdraw from the “Capital Reserve Fund - Purchase of Buses” (savings account) a sum of money not to exceed $2,229,241 to be used for the purchase of 13 replacement buses and communications equipment used in the operation of such buses. State Aid generated on these purchases will be returned to the Capital Reserve Fund―Purchase of Buses.
   
• Proposition 2: Authorization to establish a reserve fund to be known as the "Capital Instructional Technology Reserve Fund." The ultimate amount of such fund shall not exceed $15,000,000 plus accrued interest. The fund shall be used to finance, in whole or in part, the purchase of equipment, including computer equipment (i.e. hardware, software, related networking infrastructure and related peripherals). The maximum term of the Capital Instructional Technology Reserve Fund shall be 10 years, and the source of money to be paid into such reserve fund shall include excess revenue, unencumbered appropriations, unreserved fund balance of the school district or budgetary appropriation.
   
• Proposition 3: Authorization to withdraw from the “Capital Instructional Technology
  Reserve” (savings account) a sum of money not to exceed $500,000 to be used for the purchase of laptops to support the 1:1 device program.

These three propositions continue the District’s thoughtful use of reserves in a fiscally responsible manner. Establishment and responsible funding of reserves permits necessary replacement and upgrades to equipment without the need to raise taxes for those purchases.

Please remember to mark your calendars to come and vote on May 21. The polls will be open from 9am to 7pm in the gym at Barker Road Middle School.

For more budget information, visit: Business and Finance / Budget Information 2024-2025 (pittsfordschools.org)