On Jan. 18, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined the fiscal year 2023 executive budget proposal, which includes $31.3 billion in education funding and aims to fulfill the promise to fully fund Foundation Aid.
The release of the Executive Budget Proposal marks the formal beginning of the annual state budget process and will be followed by negotiations between the governor and the state Legislature. The deadline for an on-time budget from the state is April 1.
Hochul’s tentative plan includes an increase of approximately 17.6% or $3,657,339 in Foundation Aid for the district for the 2022-23 school year. If approved, the additional funding will help offset rising expenses facing all school districts, such as health insurance, salaries, pension contributions and overall inflation — which is at its highest level since 1991, according to the state budget director Robert Mujica.
District officials are also considering the proposal of additional propositions for the 2022-23 budget vote that would require voter approval:
- A capital reserve fund to help offset the cost of improvements and renovations to district facilities from unappropriated fund balance,
- The purchase of school buses to replace aging transportation vehicles, and
- A capital improvement project that will address roofing and HVAC repairs.
More details about the district’s proposed budget will be shared as soon as details are finalized after the adoption of the state budget on April 1. The 2022-23 budget vote will be held from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 at the Main Street Administration Building.
About Gov. Hochul’s proposed budget
Gov. Hochul’s budget includes $31.3 billion in total education aid, an increase of 7.1%. In addition to funding the second of a three-year phase-in of Foundation Aid, the governor is proposing to fully fund expense-based aids, provide funding high-need districts can access for academic support and mental health services and require all school districts to convert their bus fleets to zero-emission vehicles over the next several years. View the Governor’s website to learn more about the state budget proposal
