York One board hears budget scenarios showing $0.9M–$2.4M shortfalls; millage and one-time funds discussed

York School District One leaders presented four budget scenarios Saturday showing gaps ranging from about $882,000 to $2.45 million if the district limits changes to required step increases or adds various cost-of-living adjustments.

The shortfall stems largely from state funding shifts and mandated step increases for employees. Finance director Amy (no last name given in the transcript) told the board the district is "short" under each option unless it raises local millage, uses one-time Education Improvement Act carryover funds or draws on fund balance.

At the retreat, Amy outlined scenario one (only required step increases) through scenario four (a $2,000 teacher increase plus a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for other staff). She said the district’s legal maximum millage increase would be 14.9 mills and modeled how much revenue that would generate, but under several scenarios a full millage increase would still leave a shortfall.

Board members pushed staff for detail. A trustee, Wade, asked for clarity on what positions would be at risk and how the proposed cuts would affect classroom services. Amy said staff have identified roughly $637,000 in savings from not replacing certain positions and repurposing two FTEs, and another $200,000 from other repurposings, but that those one-time savings do not fully close larger scenarios’ gaps.

Trustees discussed trade-offs. Some favored scenario two — a $1,000 teacher increase plus a 2% COLA for other employees — paired with use of one-time EIA funds. Others warned that relying on EIA or fund balance is not sustainable because those are nonrecurring and would leave the district vulnerable in subsequent years. Board member Wayne said he favored protecting lower-paid support staff if cuts are necessary: "I would rather give our support staff employees a 2% [increase] ... because our pay for support staff is not where it needs to be." Amy cautioned that step increases are required by state law and cannot be avoided.

The board asked staff to return with more granular personnel costs, a projection of middle‑school staffing needs tied to the new school opening in 2027, and precise estimates for any recommended millage or referendum timelines.

The board did not take a vote. Staff said the next public discussion of budget options will be the board work session and meeting next week.