The Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education adopted the district’s proposed $75.3 million dollar spending plan for the 2025-26 school year during Monday’s regular meeting. The plan calls for a $3.9 million, or 5.56%, increase in spending over the current year’s budget. Because the state budget hasn’t been finalized yet, the district is moving forward with current projected state aid numbers to meet required deadlines.
Like many districts across the state, Jamesville-DeWitt was faced with financial challenges while developing the proposed budget. Even though the district is projecting an increase in revenue of 3.07% compared to 2024-25, it’s not enough to cover rising costs which are projected to increase by 5.56%. Some factors contributing to this include inflation, rising health care premiums and other insurance costs, along with contractual obligations. The proposal would use fund balance and reserves to offset the gap between revenues and expenses, which is similar to using the district’s savings account.
The proposed budget would maintain programming and support the district’s new strategic plan which aims to provide a holistic educational experience that nurtures the academic, social, and emotional growth of every student. The budget would support the plan’s three focus areas of academic excellence; enhanced student and family experience; and safe and efficient operations.
The district is using key data such as enrollment figures and student needs to determine where staffing reductions or additions may be required. The proposed budget would add one full-time equivalent (FTE) English as a New Language teacher as well as a part-time Secondary Band position based on student needs and enrollment in these areas. The district plans to reduce approximately six positions consisting of three FTE teaching positions, one FTE teaching assistant, one FTE food service worker and one FTE clerical position through attrition rather than layoffs.
Another important factor in budget development is the tax levy, which is the total amount of money collected from district property owners to support the budget. The state-imposed tax levy limit will allow the district to raise 1.96% or $888,019 more than in 2024-25. Because the proposal is within the district’s tax levy limit, a simple majority of voters would need to approve the budget for it to pass.
Tax rates are calculated in August once property values are finalized by town, county, or city assessors in addition to receiving final equalization rates from the New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services. The school tax levy is only one portion of the tax rate formula. The estimated projected tax per $100,000 of assessed home value with basic STAR exemption is $1,287.75, which would be a monthly increase of $2.06 or $24.73 annually.
The 2025-26 proposed budget would be funded through four areas: state aid ($23 million), the tax levy ($46 million), fund balance ($3.9 million), and other revenues ($2.1 million) from such items as county sales tax and interest income.
What you can expect on the ballot
Proposition 1: 2025-26 Budget
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- Proposed Budget: $75,327,667
- Budget Change: 5.56%
- Tax Levy Change: 1.96%
Proposition 2: Bus Purchases
The district is proposing the purchase of four 65-passenger buses for $168,228 each and one Micro Bird bus for $109,407 for a total of $782,319. This will keep the district’s bus replacement plan on track, which aims to keep maintenance costs low and provide safe transportation for students.
All school buses must pass a rigorous state inspection that typically occurs twice annually. The district normally replaces its buses when it is no longer cost effective to make the repairs necessary to meet the state’s safety standards.
If voters approve the proposed purchases, the state would reimburse the district over a five-year period for approximately 70% of the cost of the new vehicles. The trade-in values would offset a portion of the purchase, and local property taxes would cover the remainder of the cost after transportation aid.
Proposition 3: Funding Community Library of DeWitt & Jamesville
When Jamesville-DeWitt residents vote on the proposed 2025-26 school budget, they will also have the opportunity to vote on a proposition to levy and collect a tax in the amount of $1,653,321 for the Community Library of DeWitt & Jamesville. New York state education law allows libraries to place a funding proposition on school district ballots and requires districts, at the libraries’ requests, to levy and collect taxes for libraries.
Next Steps
You can learn more about the proposed 2025-26 budget in a community newsletter and postcard which will be mailed to district residents in May.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 12 at 7 p.m. at J-D High School’s Large Group Room. You can also attend this virtually via Zoom.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., May 20, at the J-D High School gymnasium. Additional information can be found on the district’s Budget and Finance webpage.