Voters in the Auburn Enlarged City School District will decide May 19 on a proposed $111.98 million budget for the 2026-27 school year that district officials say attempts to balance rising operational costs with continued investment in student programming.
The proposed budget totals $111,979,888, an increase of 4.34% over the current school year, and includes a 2.43% tax levy increase, which district officials said falls within New York’s state tax cap. The spending plan also relies on $1.25 million in fund balance and $500,000 from the district’s tax certiorari reserve.
According to Superintendent Misty Slavic, the district has already reduced staffing and spending in several areas to offset mounting costs tied to utilities, transportation and contracted services. In a message included in the district’s May budget newsletter, Slavic said Auburn schools eliminated 6.5 support staff positions, three teaching positions and three administrative positions through attrition, restructuring and non-replacement of vacancies. Utilities increased by 20% and transportation costs climbed 16%, according to the district.
Despite those reductions, the district included several targeted investments in the proposed budget, including $632,000 for three new special education classrooms and $136,000 for summer school programming previously supported through grants.
District documents show the largest share of spending — more than 74% — goes toward program costs, including classroom instruction, transportation, athletics, special education and student support services. Salaries and benefits account for nearly 65% of total district spending.
Projected state aid revenue for the coming year totals nearly $68.7 million, up more than $4.2 million from the current year, while local property taxes are expected to generate approximately $38.2 million.
Voters will also decide Proposition No. 2, which would establish a new capital reserve fund with a maximum balance of $20 million over 10 years for future building construction, reconstruction and equipment projects.
Four candidates are running for three open seats on the Auburn Board of Education: incumbents Francis “CJ” Calarco and Daniel Lovell, along with Bruce MacBain and Dr. Eliezer Hernández. Terms would run through June 30, 2029.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 19 at Auburn Junior High School, Casey Park Elementary School, Owasco Elementary School and Seward Elementary School, depending on a resident’s election district.
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