Hello,
At the Board of Education meeting on May 26, the Board voted to move forward with a budget revote on June 16 using the original proposed budget and 2.5% tax levy increase.
We encourage all eligible residents to participate in the June 16 vote.
Please read the information below regarding how the decision was made, next steps and some helpful Q&A.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Lyndonville students.
Dr. Heather Lyon, Lyndonville Superintendent
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About the June 16 Budget Revote
1. Why did the Board keep the original proposal?
Over the past week, the Board reviewed community feedback and discussed possible alternatives, including lowering the levy and reducing the use of reserves.
Community members who opposed the budget primarily raised concerns about:
rising costs for families, especially those on fixed incomes, and
the long-term use of reserves and future financial stability.
The Board carefully considered those concerns while also recognizing the strong community support for student programs, athletics, music, extracurricular activities and student services.
After reviewing multiple options, the Board determined that the original proposal best balances:
support for students,
the district’s future financial health, and
limiting the impact on taxpayers as much as possible.
2. What happens if the budget fails again?
If the budget is voted down a second time on June 16, New York State law requires the district to move to a contingency budget.
Under contingency rules, the district would face significant restrictions on spending and future planning.
Reductions could affect:
student programs,
athletics,
music,
extracurricular opportunities,
equipment replacement, and
other student services.
These consequences are set by New York State law and would not be a local Board decision.
3. How did the district try to reduce the impact on taxpayers?
The Board recognizes that many families are dealing with rising costs in everyday life, including groceries, fuel, utilities and other household expenses. The district feels those same pressures as well.
That is one reason the proposed budget was built using reserve funds and fund balance (savings) to reduce the tax impact while still protecting programs and opportunities for students.
To help residents better understand the possible tax impact, the district has added a calculator to the budget webpage where community members can enter their home assessment value to estimate the effect of the proposed levy increase on next year’s taxes: https://www.lyndonvillecsd.org/page/budget
For additional context, the proposed 2.5% levy increase remains more than 1.5 percentage points below the district’s allowable tax cap.
Community Questions
4. Did the Board consider community feedback?
Yes.
The Board spent significant time reviewing feedback and discussing possible alternatives following the first budget vote. The concerns shared by community members were taken seriously and were an important part of the Board’s discussions.
The feedback shared this spring will continue to be important as future budgets are developed.
5. How is the district budget developed?
Budget development begins months earlier, with public discussions and presentations taking place from February through May each year.
The budget is built using:
district goals,
the Strategic Plan,
student needs,
state requirements, and
community feedback.
The district also understands that our community includes hardworking families, residents on fixed incomes and people facing rising costs in everyday life. The goal each year is to do as much as possible for students while limiting the impact on taxpayers as much as possible.
6. How can community members stay involved?
Community participation is always encouraged and appreciated.
Board of Education meetings and public Finance Committee meetings provide opportunities for community members to:
ask questions,
share feedback, and
better understand the budget as it is being developed.
These meetings are open to the public and posted on the district website.
Understanding the Budget
7. Why use reserves (savings)?
Using reserves responsibly is a normal part of long-term school financial planning. It helps districts reduce sudden spikes in taxes and avoid sudden cuts to programs.
The district also adds money back into reserves each year as part of long-term financial planning.
8. Why did some budget areas increase significantly?
Many increases are tied to required costs such as retirement contributions, health insurance, transportation and other mandated expenses.
The district also made intentional investments in areas that directly support students, including athletics, extracurricular opportunities, student support services and special education programming.
Some budget lines also appear to increase or decrease because of accounting changes or movement between budget categories rather than actual increases in spending.
9. Why are capital project costs so high?
The district is now making payments on a voter-approved capital improvement project. At the same time, the district receives significant state aid connected to the project.
Because the aid received is greater than the payment amount, the project does not create an added financial burden for taxpayers and is more than offset by state aid.
Still Have Questions?
If you would like more information, please feel free to reach out to:
Dr. Heather Lyon, Superintendent, hlyon@lcsdk12.org
Tanya Marek, Board Clerk, tmarek@lcsdk12.org
Patrick Whipple, BOE President, pwhipple@lcsdk12.org
If we do not have the answer directly, we will find it and/or connect you with the person who does.