BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Massena Central School District officials are hoping for a 0% tax levy increase as they work through budget planning for the district.

Officials say there is a possibility of achieving the feat after assessing Governor Hochul’s proposed budget that calls for a sharp increase in school aid.

According to Superintendent Pat Brady, administration and officials on the finance committee are continuing to work on the budget as they prepare to have it finalized sometime in April.

“Our current projections are based on the governor’s proposal released on Feb. 1,” Brady said.

Brady said the district is set to receive a significant boost in foundation aid but that half a million dollars is to be used to tutor students who “are at risk of not meeting ELA and math standards in grades three through eight.”

Though he noted that funding is very necessary and will likely allow the district to help many students in need, one issue is that the funds will be restricted.

Brady said the district is still awaiting final word but if the funding is as restricted as expected it is a concern for the district.

Officials say the district is set to receive $34.7 million in foundation aid, a rise of nearly 18% compared to last year.

Expense-based aid will likely be over $8.5 million, which is an increase of 9.42%, Brady said.

Building aid is currently estimated to be $6,752,375, an increase of 29.96%, due in large part to the ongoing capital project. Officials say the project should be completed sometime this fall.

“I want to also temper that with the fact that we’re looking at these years where there could be some issues with funding, and this is not a final budget. I want to be clear on that. This is the governor’s proposal. Where it ends up in April with the Legislature is not quite clear yet, but we certainly hope our legislative leaders will support it,” Brady said.

Officials noted administrators have submitted budget requests that total around $1.7 million.

Brady said the finance committee is continuing to work through budget requests, noting that those requests will need to be decided on during the budget process.

Revenues for the district are expected to be over $68.5 million, with total expenditures totaling $69.1 million.

Appropriated fund balance money will have to be used to cover the remaining $472,786, Brady said.

The remaining $472,000 is actually a decrease compared to this year where fund balance appropriations to balance the budget totaled $988,000.

Brady also said that salaries are expected to increase 10.4%, while the Employee Retirement System will see a 19.7% increase. The Teacher Retirement System will see a 7% increase, while workers’ compensation will increase 10.6%, Social Security will rise 13.1%, health insurance will increase 8.9% and total benefits will increase 9.6%.

“Our TRS rate is going up, but that’s more related to the fact that in this budget we’re looking at adding some staff, and when you add staff and payroll, that means your TRS rate goes up,” Brady said.

Despite many hardships and uncertainty over the state budget, officials are hopeful they can maintain the current tax levy.

Officials say the estimated tax cap from 2023-24 is 3.92%, bringing in over $581,000 more than 2022-23.

Officials will be holding a second public budget forum on March 16.