The North Syracuse Central School District is well into the planning process for next year’s school budget and things will start to solidify in the next few weeks leading up to the budget vote on May 17. As pieces of the budget develop, weekly updates will be posted to our budget website at www.nscsd.org/budget.
The Board of Education will receive an update on the budget process at the March 21 meeting and the priorities for next year are very clear. We need to continue to recover socially and emotionally from COVID and close the academic gaps created by disrupted learning during the pandemic. At the same time, we need to continue to press forward with the professional development and support of our staff.
On Monday the Board of Education will hear about 2 additional propositions that will appear on the ballot in May. First, out of concern for the rising energy costs, the District will consider an $7.5 million Energy Performance Contract (EPC) allowing us to become more efficient and save money in the future. Second, we will be asking the voters to support the rebuilding of the air conditioning system at NSJH. The chillers, which are the primary component of the system, are failing. Replacing these chillers will ensure comfort and increase energy efficiency at NSJH. Both the EPC and Chiller project propositions will HAVE NO TAX IMPACT - NO INCREASE IN TAXES. They will be funded out of savings and fund balance.
Finally, we are struggling with the impact of inflation, which is at a 40 year high. We are seeing cost increases in everything from supplies & materials to healthcare.
Although we still have a lot of work to do, our goal is to ask the BOE to adopt the budget on April 4.
