BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The proposed fiscal year 2025 budget for the Massena Central School District that residents of the district will be voting on May 21 will include no tax levy increase.

Superintendent Ron Burke said another budget was on the table that would have carried a levy increase of 4.49%, which would have been at the district's tax cap, however officials opted to move forward with the $72,298,457 budget plan.

In order to keep the levy flat, school officials have opted to utilize $2.2 million in fund balance to make it work.

School aid also fluctuated, with  increases and decreases coming into play after state officials officially adopted the state budget.

According to Burke, the district will receive $35,809,237 in foundation aid, which represents an increase of $1,346,628 or 3.91%.

While that is welcome relief after some state officials sought to cut foundation aid to north country schools in the budget, Burke did note that the district will receive less expense-based aid.

In total, the district will receive $8,425,723 or 1.34% less than last year. That equates to a loss of $114,850.

Burke said he wanted to caution district members to not get excited about the number, noting that it was "fluid."

It is going to change as we see our expenses get finalized over the course of the year. That could go up. It could also go down,” he said.

The district will also see a significant decrease in building aid, with $5,662,515 awarded. The represents a decrease of $719,860 or 11.28% compared to last year.

Overall though, the district is in good shape with $49,898,050 in state aid slated for the district, or 1.04% more than last year. That equates to an increase of $512,493.

Burke said it was disappointing that the district would not receive a 4.1% increase based upon the inflationary rate, however he did say the 2.5% increase "at the end of the day is better than zero."

Another disappointment came in the form of the state's refusal to allow districts to budget more for capital outlay projects, which is currently capped at $100,000 per year.

Officials say after the expense of architectural and engineering fees, little is left to actually complete those projects.

Salaries will also increase by 9.3% next year, which is $2,408,534, while the Employee Retirement System is set to increase $253,967 or 26.2%.

Worker's compensation will decrease by $50,000 or 16.1%, while the Teacher Retirement System will increase by 4.2% or $78,133.

Social Security will increase $34,256 or 1.7% and health insurance will decrease by 1.0% or $137,437.

In total, benefits will increase by 1.3% or $258,129.

Burke said total budgeted expense for the fiscal year will include $19.8 million for employee benefits, $5.8 million for principal and interest, $1.2 million for buses and equipment, $28.4 million for salaries, $11.3 million for Board of Cooperative Education Services and $6 million for other needs like textbooks and various other requests.

District residents will head to the polls on May 21 to vote on the budget between 12-8 p.m. at the Massena Community Center. 

More info on the budget and a sample ballot can be found here.

For information about the school board candidates click here.