The East Greenbush Central School District presented an updated version of its preliminary school budget for 2025-26 at Wednesday evening’s Board of Education meeting in the Genet Elementary School auditorium.
Superintendent Jeff Simons provided an overview of the budget process and shared updates made since the Budget Workshop on March 12.
The district is facing a budget gap for next school year due to increasing expenses, primarily from employee benefits which are beyond the control of the school district and Board of Education. For example, health insurance costs are rising significantly, with a 14.7% overall increase. This includes an 8.8% increase in medical premiums and a 20% increase in prescription drug premiums.
Mr. Simons noted that the increase in employee benefits from the current year to next year accounts for 71% of the total budget increase.
“Seventy cents of every dollar in increased expenses is coming from employee benefits,” said Mr. Simons.
Mr. Simons outlined four different scenarios to close the anticipated budget gap. Each of the scenarios used different levels of reductions, reserve funds, and tax levy increases with a range of 3.19% to 5.19%.
The district has averaged a 0.51% tax levy increase over the past five years, which is one of the lowest among school districts in the Capital Region.
“Our board has an excellent record of sensitivity to our taxpayers as we have offered budgets to our community with low tax increases during the past several years,” said Mr. Simons. “Our expenses are projected to exceed our revenues this year, next year and in future years, so some difficult decisions are being weighed right now.”
“Our schools continue to deliver exceptional education and high academic results,” he continued. “To preserve the exceptional programs we offer our students and to ensure fiscal stability next year and in the future years, we are asking our community to weigh in as we deliberate. We encourage the community to follow our budget discussions, to understand the challenges we face and to consider a budget that includes a larger contribution than what we’ve needed in recent years.”
While the preliminary budget maintains all regular school year programs, staff reductions would be needed to balance the budget. The district will try to achieve this through attrition – not filling certain current vacancies and not replacing certain staff who are retiring at the end of the school year.
Over the last five years, the district added staffing positions, primarily to address student needs and mandated services. Positions were added to support early intervention and lower class sizes at the K-5 level, implement new instructional programs, focus on student academic and social-emotional needs, and meet the needs of an increase in students who require mandated services in special education and English as a New Language.
The Board of Education has not made any final determinations regarding the proposed budget. It will consider the options presented and have further discussions at the next Budget Workshop, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Central Administration conference room.
In addition to the school budget, voters will decide on three additional propositions – the purchase of eight fuel buses from the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund, the purchase of two EV buses, and the re-establishment of the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund – and select four individuals for the Board of Education.
The Budget Vote and Board Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20.
Residents can learn more about the preliminary school budget at upcoming budget meetings this spring.
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