In the East Irondequoit Central School District, voters will be heading to the polls on May 19 to vote on a $101,174,113 school budget for 2026-27.
In addition to the budget, voters will elect members to the school board. The vote will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 19 at Eastridge High School.
If the budget is approved, the tax levy will be increased by 2.04%, which is within the tax cap. Compared to the current school year budget, the proposed budget decreased by $1,065,163, or 1%.
What are the biggest areas of spending increase in East Irondequoit?
The East Irondequoit district, like other school districts across the region and state, continues to face significant health care cost increases, which remains one of the largest drivers of ongoing expenses.
While the district is planning carefully to manage these rising costs, the district said it recognizes that these increases are not sustainable long‑term without continued advocacy and future planning.
In addition, the state projects significant deficits in its budgets over the next several years.
This dictates that school districts must plan their budgets in the event that state funding is decreased in the future. Lastly, the district continues to plan for the increasing costs of special education, which has consistently increased over the last several years.
Are there any areas of spending cuts or decreases?
A significant component of this year’s proposed budget is a spending reduction of $1,065,163, representing a 1 percent decrease.
This reduction was achieved through the payoff of debt related to the construction of the middle school and through staff attrition. By reducing debt and adjusting staffing and resources to reflect enrollment trends, the district said it was able to reduce costs without eliminating programs or services for students.
What would new school tax rate be in East Irondequoit?
The district estimates a tax rate of $23.02/$1,000 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would pay approximately $79 per year.
Foundation aid, the primary state aid source, is projected to increase by only 1% next year. Expenses such as salaries, health insurance, utilities, bus fuel and special education cost increases are far greater than the amount of additional aid we will receive.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: East Irondequoit school budget vote — here are the key numbers
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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