Victor Central leaders outline reserve plan and 2026–27 budget priorities, propose bus fleet replacements

Victor Central School District officials presented a detailed reserve plan and a budget update that includes strategic shifts to capture state building aid, security investments and a proposed bus‑fleet replacement plan.

Christine Griffin, assistant superintendent for business, reviewed the district’s 2026 reserve and financial plan and recommended board approval. She said the 2025–26 budget relied on about $3.6 million in fund balance to close the gap between expenses and revenues and that operating reserves currently stand at roughly $6.8 million (about 6.2 percent of the operating budget), below Monroe County and regional averages. Griffin said the capital reserve enabled the district to allocate approximately $28.4 million to the local share of a $99 million campus capital project and urged rebuilding reserves over the coming years.

Griffin described a $100,000 shift from a BOCES operations line into a capital‑outlay line to maximize building‑aid reimbursement (cited at about 75.2 percent), noting the shift is budget neutral across years and will allow earlier project work to be reimbursed in the following fiscal year. She also explained security allocations (proposed $60,000 equipment line for cameras and interior/exterior door hardening) eligible for New York Safe Act building aid and a security contractual increase that reflects the district’s SRO cost through Ontario County.

On transportation, Griffin said the proposed budget is $5,258,000 (a 4.3 percent increase) driven by driver shortages that require contracted providers and a $53,000 insurance correction on the contractual line. The district is proposing a spring proposition to replace buses with a package totaling about $1,560,000 for a mix of 77‑passenger, 30‑passenger and one wheelchair‑accessible bus to maintain safety and warranty coverage.

Griffin outlined the budget calendar through April (final budget adoption targeted for April 16 and the public budget vote on May 19) and said the governor’s executive budget release later in January will inform state aid assumptions. Board members asked clarifying questions about security, contracting and the timing of state aid; Griffin said personnel and non‑personnel priorities will be refined in March and reported back to the board.