HCSD BOE Budget Final Meeting 4 16 26

The Horseheads Central School District Board of Education held a budget meeting on April 16, 2026, focusing on finalizing the upcoming fiscal year's budget amid uncertainty due to the lack of a finalized state budget. The board discussed adjustments made to balance the budget, including increased use of reserves totaling $750,000, updated revenue projections reflecting a 6.95% increase, and expenditures aligned with priorities such as health claims, assistant principals, vehicle replacements, and technology upgrades. The board also addressed the potential for additional state aid post-budget adoption, which would be treated as surplus revenue to support healthcare costs and reserves. A key action item was the board's approval to allow district officials to work with tax assessment rates and use debt service funds to reduce the tax levy below 4%, despite the budget being within the 2% tax cap. No formal vote on the budget was taken as it was not final, but the board expressed consensus on the presented plan. The meeting also included a moment of silence for a recently deceased bus driver and discussion of calendar adjustments related to snow days.