West Seneca proposes $156.0M budget, sets levy at $69.97M; 47.5 FTEs cut and bus purchase on ballot

The West Seneca Central School District presented its final proposed 2024–25 budget on May 7, asking voters to approve a $156,020,575 spending plan that administrators said would set the tax levy at $69,966,619, a 1.95% increase.

Dr. Ravey, who led the budget presentation, told the board the district faces the expiration of pandemic-era grants (about $4.8 million) and rising contractual costs. "Employee salary increases are at $3,113,039," he said, and benefits increases were described as $1,900,000. He also said special-education costs and transportation contract increases were significant drivers.

The district described three levers to close the gap: the levy, use of restricted and unrestricted reserves, and expenditure reductions. The presentation listed use of reserves for 2025 at $6,389,121 and additional expenditure reductions of $4,481,476; administrators said the net increase in the general fund would be about $7,981,015 after accounting for vehicle reserve purchases.

Budget line-item changes highlighted administration down by about $843,000, instruction up roughly $4.2 million, transportation up $1.3 million and benefits up $1.9 million. The district reported staff reductions totaling 47.5 full-time equivalents (30.5 certified positions and 17 classified positions) taken during the budget development process; after those reductions the district characterized payroll and benefits increases as 4.63% overall.

Officials walked through typical household examples to show taxpayer impact: for a $52,000 assessed-value home the presentation listed a projected bill of $2,519.32 (an increase of $48.09); a $100,000 assessed-value example showed an increase of $92.47. Administrators cautioned the district’s equalization rate (26%) affects the final local tax-bill computations.

Proposition 2 on the May 21 ballot would purchase six buses (four 30-passenger and two 65-passenger) for $759,892; presenters noted historical state aid on bus purchases, citing roughly $2.3 million in aid returned on roughly $3.3 million in purchases over five years.

Dr. Ravey described contingency scenarios if the budget fails: because a contingency budget cannot increase the levy, the district would need $1,335,437 in additional reductions. He said those cuts would include about $756,002 in additional staffing reductions, $479,435 from training/travel/equipment and $100,000 in capital outlay reductions; community use of facilities would require full reimbursement under contingency.

The board emphasized next steps to voters: the budget and board elections will be on the ballot May 21 at East Senior High School, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. If additional staffing reductions become necessary, administrators said they would identify impacts and present details to the board on May 22.

The regular board meeting that followed approved the consent agenda and new-business items unanimously and then moved into further discussion on long-term advocacy strategies for state aid and potential reserves in areas such as special education and health care.

The district provided the figures and examples during the May 7 hearing; the board will not take a public vote on the budget until the May 21 public election.