Saranac Lake board hears budget forecast showing 3.57% tax‑cap upper end and a $73,000 projected gap

Staff member (Speaker 3) walked the board through Budget Forecast No. 2, saying the district’s calculation of the tax‑cap upper end would permit a 3.57% increase and noting a line in the forecast that appears as $844,138. She said the district currently holds roughly $5,000,000 in unassigned fund balance and recommended using some of that balance to help stabilize the budget in the short term.

"The first thing we had to do was figure out the tax cap," Staff member said. "The upper end of the tax cap would be a tax increase of 3.57%." She described line‑item adjustments, including keeping state‑aid projections steady while recognizing some reimbursable aids may come in higher, and said a small forecast gap of about $73,000 is not a major concern given current reserves.

Staff member explained several budget drivers to the board: salary alignments after COVID grant positions ended, a 5.5% premium increase for health insurance, rising retirement contribution rates (ERS and TRS) and growth in special‑education costs. She highlighted that one intensive special‑education placement is currently estimated at about $160,000 and that bus‑purchase timing affects depreciation and tax‑cap calculations.

"We have $5,000,000 in our unassigned fund balance," Staff member said, adding that the district had structured COVID grant funds so some could move into unassigned balance for next year. She advised the board that, because state aid is still unsettled, it is not efficient to chase every small discrepancy until the state issues firm numbers.

Board members pressed staff on what would change if state aid shifts and on the district’s assumptions for transfers to special funds, transportation and capital reserves. Staff reiterated that the board would approve the total budget amount for voter consideration — not a line‑by‑line spending authorization — and that the district anticipates presenting a total budget near $37,300,000 for voter approval next week.

The board did not take a final vote on the budget at this meeting; staff said the board will be asked to adopt the total budget at the next meeting. The meeting record included a request that a motion be made for resolution number 0942023, described as approving the current budgetary transfer report, but the transcript does not record a mover, seconder or a final tally for that resolution.