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2025-26 School Budget Information

School Budget Vote: Tuesday, May 20

Budget Objectives

In developing the budget, the Board of Education aims for:

  1. Student-Centered Programming: Advance innovative programs and professional development that equip students with the skills and knowledge essential to thrive in a complex global environment and become engaged citizens.
  2. Fiscal Responsibility: Achieve short- and long-term fiscal balance between community desires for excellent education and reasonable taxes. This requires critical evaluation of current and proposed spending, alongside consideration of additional funding streams beyond taxes.
  3. Advocacy: Closely track state-level decisions on aid, policy and regulation to effectively advocate for the interests of students in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District.

[Download the complete 2025-26 Budget Objectives, Context & Calendar]

Calendar of Budget & Election Activities

  • Mid-January:  Announcement of Governor’s budget proposals
  • Wednesday, Feb. 5: Budget update during regular BOE Mtg, 6 p.m., Boardroom
  • Friday, Feb. 14: Compiled budget requests & reference materials shared with BOE
  • Wednesday, Feb. 26: Finance Committee Mtg, 5 p.m., (Regular BOE Mtg to follow at 6 p.m.) Submit tax levy limit information to state comptroller (March 1)
  • Wednesday, Mar. 12: Finance Committee Mtg, 5 p.m., HS Boardroom (Regular BOE Mtg to follow at 6 p.m.) Approve referenda & notice of annual mtg
  • Wednesday, Mar. 26: Finance Committee Mtg, 5 p.m., HS Boardroom (Regular BOE Mtg to follow at 6 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, April 9: 2025-26 Budget Forum, 6 p.m., Boardroom (regular board meeting to follow)
  • Thursday, April 10: Finance Committee Mtg (if needed)
  • April 14-18: Spring Recess NO SCHOOL
  • Monday, April 21: BOE candidates’ filing deadline, 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 23: Adopt Proposed 2025-26 Budget as part of regular BOE Mtg; Property Tax Report Card submitted to SED
  • Friday, April 25: Draft budget newsletter to BOE (tentative)
  • Wednesday, April 30: Budget materials available in all schools & on district website
  • Wednesday, May 7: Budget Hearing as part of regular BOE Mtg, 6 p.m., Boardroom
  • May 8-19: Outreach to inform school groups & community about 2025-26 budget
  • Thursday, May 8: Budget notice & newsletter mailed to residents
  • Wednesday, May 14: Meet-the-Candidates Night, 7 p.m., location & host TBD
    Tuesday, May 20: School Budget Vote, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., BH-BL High School Gymnasium

2024-25 Budget At a Glance

Overview of the Budget Process

Budget development actually starts in every November when the Board of Education begins to identify their budget objectives and the factors external and internal to the school district that are likely to have the greatest impact on the next year’s budget. Such factors can include rising prices for fuel or health insurance, for example, or the expectation that we will be impacted by a new state mandate or a change in pupil enrollment.

By December, the Board has created a detailed budget development calendar that includes the objectives and context for the new school budget.

In January, the Board of Education receives preliminary budget requests for the coming school year from school administrators, as well as requests for additional staffing and possible new or improved programs.

February, March and early April are spent analyzing and discussing these requests at a series of public Finance Committee meetings. The school board also solicits public input on the budget and devotes time to budget development issues at its regular February and March business meetings. Administrators work to refine their numbers as more accurate cost estimates and enrollment figures are received during this period, and as Board members ask them to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of providing a service in a different way.

Throughout the winter and spring, school board members and administrators are also monitoring budget activity at the state level. BH-BL school board members and administrators are in frequent contact with local legislators to inform them how various state funding proposals will affect our schools.

In mid-April, the Board of Education votes on a proposed budget. A newsletter describing the budget is then printed and mailed to all district homes in early May. A copy of the proposed budget broken down by line items is also available in May at the main office of each school or the District Office. The public vote on the proposed budget is held by law on the third Tuesday in May.