Ballston Spa school budget hearing Wednesday night [The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.]

May 7—Ballston Spa Central School District will host a public hearing tonight on a proposed 2024-25 spending plan increasing district spending by 2.8% and the amount collected through taxes 4.1%.

The district has proposed a $107,179,996 budget for the 2024-25 school year, as compared to $104,232,811 for the 2023-24 school year.

"One major factor behind the budget expenditure plan was a lack of a revenue increase to state aid and the loss of PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] revenue," states the district's budget document. "Issues that received careful consideration include economic conditions [namely inflation], pupil transportation, and controlling the budget increase in order to address the decrease in the Global Foundries PILOT and Foundation Aid. This required the elimination of certain staffing positions."

The district is also seeking to increase the tax levy this year to $60,420,920, as compared to $58,016,479 for the 2023-24 school year. The amount proposed to be levied for next school year is still under the district's allowable cap of 5.5%, which is determined by a tax-cap formula.

The district said there will be increased costs to health insurance next school year — the rise will equate to 6.4%, or $1,112,291. Rising costs from items such as fuel and parts needed to transport students have also led to increases in spending for next year, according to the district. Transportation spending is proposed to increase 6.1%.

As for revenue, the district is only expecting a 2% increase in state aid, primarily due to an increase in transportation aid. There will be about $740,000 less in taxes coming from GlobalFoundries PILOT agreement.

"The valuation of the plant's annual assessments, as per the PILOT agreement, are decreasing and will continue to decrease until the fiscal year 2028," state budget documents. "This will have a significant negative impact on the district's revenues. Conversely, the recent approval of funding for a second plant will likely have a very positive impact on revenues and will likely more than offset the decreases to the existing plant PILOT."

In the budget proposal for 2024-25, the district also plans to use $550,000 in general fund reserves, $250,000 from the debt service fund and $1 million in unassigned fund balance.

The district also has a few propositions for district residents to vote on, including spending $1,075,000 on bus purchases. State aid reimbursement would offset 65% of the cost.

The district isn't purchasing any electric buses under the proposal and indicated if the state requirements continue they will need to begin making electric bus purchases in fiscal year 2026.

There is also a proposition to use $595,000 to replace two lifts at the bus garage and $63,344 for the Ballston Spa Library operating expenses.

The district public hearing on the budget will be at 6:15 p.m. today in the Ballston Spa High School library. The budget vote is Tuesday, May 21 at Malta Town Hall and Ballston Spa High School from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Community budget presentations are also planned for 6:30 p.m. May 13 at the Ballston Town Hall; 6:30 p.m. May 14 at the Malta Community Center and 6:30 p.m. May 15 at the Milton Community Center.

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