001You're recording. >> Fantastic. Thank you everybody. This is the 2026 ICSD budget hearing. It is required and the process for this evening is a short information sort of a very quick recap and summary. The real purpose of the hearing is to hear from the community and public comment that we may have. I will let folks know typically board members do not provide answers or responses during the hearing but that does not prevent us from following up afterwards to any said questions or commentary that we receive. But with that being said, we'll start our hearing and we'll begin with Dr. Lusby. Thank you for joining us and I'll ask you to start us off. >> We'll do. Thank you Dr. Bramwell. So we'll just show the presentation here on the the board here. This is just
002a general overview of the 2026-27 proposed budget and the prop- associated propositions. I just want to remind folks that the newsletter went out for the budget and some of you probably already received that. So and that will provide further clarification regarding the propositions and the overall budget itself. So I'll start the total budget proposed is 177 million 638,041 dollars. That's a levy increase of 3.4%. That is below the state cap which was calculated at 4.18% and that was adopted on April 14th, 2026. The annual budget vote and school board election will be held on May 19th and the polls open from 12:00 noon and close at 9:00 p.m. There are four propositions. Proposition one and typically these are read just to give folks an idea of how this is how this usually takes place. We
003do read the propositions word for word. Part of what we're obligated to do. So proposition number one, proposed 2026-27 budget, shall the Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District, City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, be authorized to expend $177,638,041 to meet the district's estimated expenditures during the 2026-27 school year and to levy the necessary tax therefore. Proposition two, appropriation and expenditure of capital reserve funds, shall the Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District, known as the district, be authorized to appropriate funds from the district's 2022 capital reserve fund in the maximum amount of $2,346,308 and to expend these combined funds for the following purposes: one, purchase of up to seven 70-passenger ultra-low emission propane buses for long-range travel, and two, purchase of to one 30-passenger ultra-low emission propane bus for
004long-range travel, three, purchase of up to two wheelchair-equipped 66-passenger ultra-low emission propane buses for long-range travel, four, interior/exterior renovations at Cayuga Heights Elementary School to include structural and/or repairs. Proposition three, establishment of a new capital reserve fund. Shall the Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District, the district, be authorized to establish a reserve fund in accordance with section of the New York Education Law to be known as the 2026 Capital Reserve Fund for a probable term of five years commencing on July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30th, 2031, for the purpose of financing in whole or in part the purchase of school buses and other vehicles and/or the cost of authorized alterations, constructions, and/or reconstruction of district facilities, buildings, and/or additions, including related site work, health and safety improvements, and handicap accessibility
005improvements, and to fund the 2026 Capital Reserve Fund in the maximum amount of $10 million excluding interest earnings in current or future years through various sources including but not limited to state reimbursement cost savings measures resulted in unexpended funds or unappropriate fund balance and other legally available funds of the district. Our proposition four 2026 capital project shall the bond resolution adopted by the board of education on March 10, 2026 authorizing the construction of improvements to and reconstruction of various school district buildings and facilities including site improvements, transportation infrastructure upgrades and original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, appur- appur- I I got caught on that one. Appurtenances and incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith at a maximum estimated cost of $43,900,000 and the issuance of $43,900,000 bonds of said school district to pay the cost
006thereof to mature over a period not exceeding 30 years providing that such bonds shall be payable from amounts levied in annual installments on taxable real property of said school district pledging the district's faith and credit for the payment of such bonds delegating powers to the chief fiscal officer with respect to the issuance and sale of bond anticipation notes and such bonds containing an estoppel clause and providing for the publication of an estoppel notice to be approved. Uh Propositions one, two, and three require simple majority in this case. Proposition four is the same uh because we are under the cap. And that's it for the summary. >> Thank you. And so uh just to offer another brief summary, I appreciate you reading uh into the record which uh we're supposed to do. Uh proposition one is
007the is the budget for next academic year. Uh proposition two was the one that we would normally refer to as the purchase of buses and other uh transportation equipment including any smaller capital projects that may happen. Uh proposition three is the establishment of a fund to do the similar thing in future years. And proposition four is a new uh relatively new capital project, which has been discussed uh throughout the past year. Uh for any community member, I highly recommend uh hopefully if you have internet access to go to uh the ICSD budget page, you will find a tool calculator, you will find a budget book, you will find the mailer, you will find minutes for meetings for both the finance committee as well as full board meetings that provide additional information as well. Uh and
008again, the purpose of to this hearing here uh is established by New York State law is to be able to hear from delegates of public and uh as such we'll move in that direction. Um at this point in time, the first name that we have is Joe Lonsky. Joe, good to see you. Um if you would be willing to come up and just talk with the microphone to be able to pick up whatever you'd like to say. Sure. We typically allow for three minutes for comments and we'll proceed >> It takes less than that. I just have to come down and bother you guys a whole bunch. >> I appreciate it, Joe. >> It just wouldn't be the same if I wasn't here, you know. Um The main thing that bothers me are are are
009the are the number are the number things. Um growing the budget with with money that we were overtaxed in the first place. And then so so even though it's only $162 on a on a median home of the 3.4%, right? Next year we start it at a higher point than that. I mean that that's I'm not That's that's the reality of it. So that that sneakiness of of of using uh uh rainy day money to just grow the grow the budget is is definitely a problem. I've always had a problem with that. Um the 3.4 I wouldn't be here, probably. But, uh so, we're the fund balance is is tax money. It's money that we were overtaxed or it's it's I mean, that's that's what it is, right? It's stuff you had left over. I
010mean, that's that's what fund balance means, right? >> Uh I would classify differently, but again, I'll I'll respond to you via email. It's >> Okay. >> I wouldn't use the word overtax. It's an intentional savings that helps >> Cuz cuz I saw I saw that you you you do want to establish a a reserve fund, and that's that's fine. I I get that. Sure. I just don't get uh fund balances. It's just um And and it is a sneaky way to grow the budget. A lot of people don't understand it. I don't understand it. But, I do understand that it's sneaky. Um and then, of course, you know, um $35,000 for kids is a lot of money, and and uh I just think you could have done better than 5%, but that's that's all I
011needed to say. >> Appreciate it, Jim. >> Geneva did 1%. I have a friend who lives up there. We were just talking about it. I'm I'm going to leave it at that cuz it sounds good when I say that. >> At this point, something to add, anybody else signed up? Is anyone online? Brad Granger, yes, please. >> Just wanted to share. Thank you. Uh thank you all for your service. I've sat in your seats previously, so I'm familiar with it. So, I appreciate your your serving. Um I just wanted to say I was disappointed that you were unable to come to a consensus on the budget. Um it sends a very confusing message uh to the voters. Um that was unfortunate. And for those who said they didn't have enough information, I'll only ask the
012question of how many additional finance committees did you request or committees of the whole did you request, and how many of those did you attend in order to get more information? It's upon you to go get that information. You have to do it in public. I hope you you know coming into the next year, you'll start September, ask for additional meetings, and ask those questions then so you can get your answers well in advance of May, and be able to send a consistent message to the voters next year. That's all I had to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Greg. Anybody else? >> I have a question or two. Is that all right? >> Please. Can you tell us your name? >> Uh Amanda Williams. Um I have only lived in Ithaca for 5 years.
013I have grandson at Belle Sherman, and have nothing but praise for the programming that he's received. I'm concerned that there are 23 children in his kindergarten class. I'm a retired teacher from Alabama, and in the kindergarten where I taught, there were 15 children. Um so class size is concerning to me. Um Another thing in Alabama, schools were funded um by the state. Every child got per capita the same amount where the school system was. If the system wanted to provide better services, the only option open was to vote a sales tax, citywide sales tax. And so, um coming to Ithaca, finding out that schools are supported by property taxes was a little alarming. Um I don't know if Ithaca has any provision where sales tax could be considered. I have no idea. Is that anything
014that the school board would be open to investigating? >> What was I missed the question. >> The question is would it be possible for Ithaca to use a self-imposed sales tax for schools rather than always raising property taxes? That was the question. Um and comparables, um comparable-sized school systems throughout the state is our budget comparable to theirs? Is it higher? Is it lower? I don't know. Where can I find that information? It is? Is that what you're saying? It is comparable or >> I'm saying we can tell you where to find that information. >> Oh, good. Please. >> Uh the best place to find it would be the New York State Report Cards. Uh if you type in NYSED Report Cards, it will come up and you can find a couple of school districts that
015would be similar. We are uniquely sized, but um I'll if we get your information, I'll be happy to email you a couple of different resources or ask my colleagues so as well. >> That would be great. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Absolutely. We do have someone online. >> You just one second. >> While we're waiting, should Are we there? >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Sasha, can you audio for Sasha? >> Hello. >> We can hear you. >> Okay, thank you. Hi, I'm my name's Alexis Abramo. I am uh the parent of a ninth grader at IHS and a seventh grader at LACS, and I'm also an ICSD employee. I work as the LACS nurse right now. Um and I'm I'm calling with a specific budget line um concern that um has come up
016for the nursing staff. Um the uh it seems that the the ICSD has dropped the the TST Health and Wellness Co-Ser for '26 and '27. Um and I I'm not sure if anybody else is aware of the services provided by the Co-Ser. Um what we were told is that they're going to offer a um we're going to get a different medical They're They're going to hire a different medical director, but the Co-Ser actually provides a lot of things that's beyond the regular medical director. We have access to a 24/7 call line for immediate health and safety questions. Um two clinicians who are have extensive experience with school health. They have deep ties in our community and a long-standing connection to the other health professionals who serve our students. Um they do in-school physicals that go
017well beyond the perfunctory school physicals that are usually offered for students to just get into sports. They do case management for students and referrals for students who have no medical home. They give us timely, relevant professional development specific to the work of school health professionals. Um they offer regular, organized opportunities to connect with the school health staff in surrounding districts. They give us access to a consultant school nurse, which is incredibly important right now since we are currently working without a head nurse or any clinical supervisor. Um and I think most importantly, they're a trusted resources that the school nurses who need to make split-second decisions about student well-being know they can connect to immediately and have faith in the directions that they get. I think that this decision was made without um consulting anyone
018in the school health team. Um, I think that the cost was not considered when you consider that having important having nurses who feel safe and supported in their work leave means that the cost of having a travel nurse to fill those positions is going to be four to five times as much money. And we also lose access to all of those other things. So, I'm asking um do you will you commit to having the school health team members participate in the new medical director decision and the resources that we need to prioritize health and safety for all of the kids in our school district? Meaning we need clinical supervision, we need a trusted medical director, and we need professional development that applies to us. Can you commit to parts having us participate in making those
019decisions and providing us the resources we need to care for our students? >> Thank you, Alexis. Uh those are all the folks who have signed up to speak. Um I can provide a couple of quick answers while we're here just because though that's not what we normally do. Uh folks can correct me if I'm wrong. Uh a sales tax is not possible in New York State. There is something that's called a utility tax which we've explored before which is utility on cell phones, lights and gas, etc. Um but the board at this point time has decided against that. Doesn't mean the new board will decide make something different. Um class size is something that we're aware of. had a conversation 2 years ago, two financial cycles ago, talking about class size. And so, that's something
020that's a constant conversation amongst the educators, amongst the school school board, not the school board, the school administration. So, just know that that's a topic of conversation really. Um, this is me again speaking out of line. Normally, so we don't put this Joe respectfully, um, I would challenge the word sneaky. I think that makes it look like it's duplicitous or there's something that is unfair about it with the exception of being completely transparent and talked about every single year about having a savings account should some major thing take place like I don't know, a major flood at the high school, right? So, but that's the idea behind fund balances. We can have another conversation off >> But the overall budget with it is is is is not is not appropriate use of it. >> Well,
021it depends on how one looks because often times that additional funds also helps generate revenue for the school district as well. Again, I look forward to having another cup of coffee and we'll we'll talk. >> Well, it's not necessary. I just want to voice my opinion. Actually, >> No, no, I apologize. I apologize. >> And I and I and I do agree with with 24 kids in a kindergarten is an insanity. But, 18 in a high school class is also an insanity the other way. >> You're Thank you, Joe. Appreciate it. Fantastic. Uh, for the other questions, uh, thank you, Alexis. Uh, someone will probably respond to you via email. Thank you, Mr. Granger for coming to speak to us as well. Um, and we'll proceed from there. Um, I'll give it another minute or
022so unless there's another comment by another board member. >> I would just say when Joe and we spoke at the Danbury fire station, uh, I said I thought we could come in under the tax cap and I just wanted to know if we could >> I didn't realize that uh, >> Uh, I this is not a this >> No, well, I know that, but I >> I know, but you walk out of this conversation with my apologies after the meeting, right? My apologies. >> But again, you're not under the tax cap because the the the raise the budget 5%. That's twice what what the inflation rate is. That's twice what wages go up around here. That is a degradation amount that you're raising it because people don't make that much more every year. >> We're
023we're all >> that's a frog in the pot number. That's another frog in the pot number. >> I'm looking forward to learning more about the phrase frog in the pot. >> Well, I I know you you you well. >> I'm not I'm not saying it to be to diminish the idea. I'm saying it >> I think I think everybody a lot of people know what that means. They can fill you in on it. >> Fantastic. So if there are no other comments, then we will bring the 2026 public hearing to a a close. Thank you all very much for sharing and for engaging with us. Look forward to vote next week.