ICSD Board of Education Facilities and Finance Committees Work Session - Thursday, April 9, 2026

001So commence. So it is 501 and I'm going to call to order the April 9th, 2026 Ethic City School District Board of Education, Facilities and Finance Committee work session. I should ask if we're live before. >> Yeah, you're good. We're good to go. Okay. >> All right. So um that is on item one. Item two is public comment. >> No one signed up. Item three, approval of minutes from the March 17, 2026 meeting. They look good to me. >> Yes, I miss your wood approves. So, we move on to item four, facilities discussion items, item 4.1, 2019 apple private construction update. And we have >> Yeah, >> thank you. >> Certainly. Uh, thanks, Eric. Yeah. Uh again, um my name is Travis Randall and I'm the uh project manager for campus construction management group uh

002direct managing the active uh construction projects that are ongoing here at Ithaca. And uh so I have a brief uh slideshow um just of kind of uh spaces that have been worked on in the past month just to kind of provide some updates. Uh and then at the end uh I want to cover quickly uh some upcoming work that we have going on this summer that's I think will be exciting for folks. So >> there we go. >> Okay. Uh first slide uh you might have seen there's uh some site work going on at here at the high school outside of the STEM area. Uh we're getting ready for these uh new sidewalks and paving kind of loop that's going to be outside of the stem area. Um better traffic flow and some additional parking

003putting in out there photo. And then this second photo kind of same but the other direction. This one actually points kind of diagonally towards Lake Street. um just shows uh the extent of some of the uh compaction and some base uh that we put in prior to actually putting the sidewalks and paving in so that they don't move and uh crack after they're installed. Okay. And then moving inside to the stem area. Just a photo here of this is uh photo of a coiling door that we're installing that separates uh the existing building to the new addition uh the open STEM area room E7 getting installed. Uh this next photo again also inside of the high school STEM area. >> Can I ask a question? >> Absolutely. toilet the coiling door. Yes. >> Um >>

004would students and staff go in between that area back and forth and and and >> especially since um years ago with the um sliding doors or what whatever mechanical doors in gymnasiums is there some sort of gauge that in case it's coming down >> there's a sensor >> 100%. Yeah, it's um I think you can't quite see it in the photo, but there's there's a pressure plate there. So, if it if it comes down uh if it's in motion and there's somebody there, just yeah, it'll it'll stop and go track back up. I think the intent is uh for that door to generally be open but can be closed uh if robotics for instance is taking place in space >> or the fire alarm goes off >> or fire. Correct. Yes. Uh, excellent. Uh, the

005next photo here, uh, just shows, uh, some of the, uh, concrete floors in the process of being polished, not a finished product here. And also, uh, some of the knee walls. You can see the kind of the the, uh, cinder block walls. That's where some of the new uh, stem equipment will get uh, kind of placed up against that. That's where they'll get their power from within those walls. Uh, next photo is this is the uh E6 auto shop. You see nearing completion. Um, you see the polished concrete floors are are completed in this space. Also vehicle lift and and number installations in that room. Next slide. This photo is from within the uh welding shop. Uh they have some material stored in there that that's going to be installed elsewhere, but you can kind

006of get an idea of the exhaust kind of hood arms for for welding and the specialty lighting that's appropriate for a welding shop in that space. And uh lastly, this photo um obviously in progress work. This is um also at the high school in room F103. I included this just to kind of give a little insight into uh what it takes to remove the unit ventilators in one of the classrooms. So this is uh in in the midst of a unit ventilator uh replacement, the new uh unit ventilators have the cooling capacity so they not only cool or not only excuse me heat but will cool the spaces. So uh this photo was actually taken over the recess and uh obviously this room got put back together and is it back in use now with

007the new equipment? >> Sure. And uh any any other questions on the construction that we have going on, the photos or otherwise? Excellent. Um and then I also just wanted to kind of give a a a brief summary of some upcoming work that we have uh coming on uh that we'll be taking on this summer. So the STEM area that the photos that we just saw, we plan to have that completed and turned over or owner occupancy move in this summer so that uh beginning next fall seme semester student that that uh area will be live for student use. So we're really excited about that. Um with that we have the temporary classroom complexes that are housing STEM now. We plan to have them removed this summer, including their the kind of peers and that

008they rest on and that lawn uh area renovated there, restored back back to uh back to grass. Uh also this summer, you'll see here at the high school uh this back parking lot that's kind of behind area K along Lake Street. uh a kind of complete renovation of that area where we're um some additional parking uh modifications to the bus loop to improve traffic flow, improve drainage out there. Um so you'll see a lot of lot of activity out there. Uh also this summer at the high school we have uh continuing on HVAC equipment replacements in areas K A and D to provide cooling to those areas. Uh also at Fall Creek this summer uh we're removing the old playground. new playground replacement scheduled for Fall Creek this summer as well as at Fall Creek

009uh flooring abatement throughout the corridors and some uh cafeteria lighting renovation uh just in the cafeteria at Fall Creek and also new cafeteria lighting going on at BJM. So um a lot of stuff upcoming and uh we uh you know uh have our work cut out for us to get ready for that summer work. So, >> any questions about Yes. >> So, will it be completed after the summer? The parking area parking lot. >> Yes, we we will have that ready or staff uh I don't know if students park in that lot or staff or students. Yeah, parking will be ready. Yeah. All um each of those items that I just kind of read through all started this summer and completed in our short construction window. Yeah. And will there be um and this is

010this area out here you said where um the bus loops in and everything like that. So light in >> because when we in the winter months is starting to talk about parking. So there's light in new parking lot lighting. Yes. Yep. New uh signage uh including e sign. Yeah. Yeah. We we actually discussed that a little bit at one of the OACM meetings and I think you're undersell a little bit. It's a really nice improvement. >> It's a tremendous improvement. >> Yeah, I think I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised that area needs needs a helping hand. The plans look excellent just in my view. >> Thanks. >> Okay. So, thank you Travis. So next up is Ker Heights. >> So I'll just address that if I could. So we're in the process of determining

011this full scope of work. Part of that is the immediate mitigation of the damage that was caused by the flood. So we're working with Serpro and Tetrate Tech. Right now our first order of business is is the resolution to declare it an emergency so that we can use funding to uh to to serve that purpose and also to receive state data and response once we do. So the full scope of work will have that relatively soon, but at this point that's under >> and that comes out of fund funds funds. >> It would be out of our Yeah. various funds that use, but part of that would be recovered through our insurance. Our insurance will cover cover up to about $500,000 of total damage. So beyond that, it's kind of a balance. >> Do we

012have like an order of magnitude of how much it might cost? time. Hope to have that soon. >> What's the deductible on the insurance? >> Good. >> Or is there another deductible? It's basically we can use up to 500 over 500 and pay for it. >> Correct. >> Yes. Just note there. I was out of uh school on on Tuesday. uh uh Tuesday and I just wanted to acknowledge the really heroic efforts of the staff at Ka Heights in getting that school up and running. I believe the flood was last Tuesday and the school was open on Monday. Uh when I was there, uh principal Eileen Ranger gave me a full tour and um her and her staff the the work that they put in over spring break and and they gave up their weekend

013so that school was ready to open on Monday morning. I I just want to shout out to her and her team. That was really a commendable effort and you know I think sort of an indication of some of the modernization of facilities that that we need to start thinking about uh pretty soon. Um I I had never been in this in this the space. I don't know if anyone else has been in there but back in the depths of the school and it it um was apparent to me that modernization uh is needed. So, so is this like correlated to the ongoing issue that we've had with the water runoff coming off the hill that's kind of percolating under the building? >> It is >> precisely. Yeah. >> Um but you know, it's just when

014you see principles spending week, two weeks becoming construction project managers rather than educating children, it it's an indication to me that the quality of our physical plan is interfering with the educational mission. So, it's something that have to come back and look at. um the the money that we're talking about for this is this just for the building or is this also going to deal with with the water run out because we clearly have a storm water issue. So is is any part of this budget going towards the exterior to deal with storm water? >> Not at this point it's it'll be staged. So the first stage is mitigation just to make sure that we repaired all the damage to the flood. After that, I think we're talking to Teture Tech now about the full

015scope of work and what it looks like and to try to make sure that we don't have that problem in the future and whether whether or not that's feasible. Yeah. >> So, that's something we'll be talking about. >> I I don't want to get it. I think there's a there's an like an immediate short term how to get the kids back in school and get rid of mild and bullet. Then there's sort of a longer thing how to keep from happening in the short run. And then there's the longer term question of what's the the why is the building that in that state. So the short, medium, and long term that we'll have to come back to. >> Um so then extreme heat. >> Another great heat. >> Yeah. So uh >> do you mind

016putting it up? Thanks. Okay. So, uh, we in 2024, uh, we received an amendment, uh, Go Oh, thanks, Governor Hokll's educational law and try to That's okay. How do I go to the next slide? >> Oh, you want to go back now? >> I want to go. I hit the button. Is that right? Every time. All right. So, um, we, uh, this is also in our safety plan. It's page six in our safety plan. But at, um, at 82 degrees, uh, we, you know, we work with our staff. We've trained our custodial staff to look at turning off lights, um, un turning off unused electronics, lowering the shades, opening the windows. Now, we open the windows um, at night and then we close them first thing in the morning to bring in cool extra cool

017air. And that's at 82 degrees. And this is also uh kind of what is recommended um in the amendment as well. Now at 88 degrees and some of the language has changed from Governor Hok on this um students and staff um can be uh relocated to core spaces and the language he added is whenever is practical. So that that was the change in this amendment. Um, so what we're doing in facilities is we're doing a lot of custodial training um to make sure that uh our custodians know what to do to cool down the spaces that I just reviewed. They also the amendment talks about taking it uh temperature in a real particular way with a psychrometer. I don't know if you're all I don't know if you're all familiar with that, but it's it's

018basically you put it's a it goes on a tripod and we had um technology make a 3D printed device so we can uh attach it there and each school has been trained to take the t the uh temperature excuse me three feet off the floor using this on the stand. Okay. I know it's it's it's it seems uh unbelievable, but this is what is shared in the memo itself. Um so so we what we've done is we've purchased a lot of fans. We have a lot of mobile air conditioning units. We're looking at getting more as well. Um, and our hottest spaces are uh because Tetrate Tech help uh Tetrate Tech helped us uh last year put together um all the data for many years to find out where all of our hot spots are

019and it was mainly the second floors of our elementary building, South Hill, Cuga Heights, uh Northeast, um Bel Sherman. So those are our hottest points and it gets to this temperature in June typically, probably in the last two weeks of June. So we're going to make sure we deploy enough air conditioning units in those spaces because those are our hottest spaces. It also gets really hot in Upper G and Upper H and Ithaca High School. Now that we have 400 tons of cool cool air that we can move throughout the building uh thanks to the improvements and the controls that we have, we're going to prioritize with that 400 tons of cool air in upper G and upper H in some other areas. So we won't have we won't have the same I mean hope

020we won't have the same issues that we typically have in upper G and upper H. And that's the part of the building that's closest to the creek and gets the most amount sunlight. um especially on the top floor. I'm people who have attended at the guys school probably remember. Um so um so that's that's our plan. The other thing is in the elementary schools we want to provide uh cafeterias as relief spaces. So we're going to put multiple air conditioned units in each of our cafeterias and our elementary buildings to cool as a as a space where classrooms could come. Um we've discovered this is the best location. The gyms are actually a lot harder for us to cool. The cafeterias seem to be the best places. Um, and uh the other the other thing

021I'm going to do is I'm going to meet with principles too and talk about I did this a little bit last year too uh to find out where classrooms can move if there's space. I mean, a good example would be last um last year uh last year um at the end of the year um at Enfield, we were able to figure out that obviously the front of the building gets really hot. Meanwhile, in the back of the building is much cooler. So, moving classrooms or at least offering teachers uh locations that are much cooler is something that I want to work with principles about to get ready for the upcoming temperatures in May. Any questions at all? >> Remember the end of last year we had talked about like some sort of reflective film or

022something on the outside of the windows for those specific units that struggle with, you know, excessive sunlight. Did we ever >> for the windows? Yeah, >> we we can't do that because of code. Uh there's some code restrictions with putting film on the outside windows. I believe it has I mean Chris can probably talk better to this, but some of it has to do with first responders for when you're doing a lockdown drill. So first responders can actually see into classrooms. And if you put film, you you ruin that line of vision. So first responders can't see into classrooms. Yeah. Depending on the product. Also, there are access issues if they're robust films as well. They need to be able to get in to places. Um solar access films tend to not be that difficult

023to get through. >> Yeah. >> Yes. There are a lot of strategies. So, so did we ever actually look into it? I'm not sure based on what you guys are saying. >> We haven't studied it specifically. We talked about it. It is a strategy that can be used in some places. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, aside from, you know, knocking the knocking the light down and vision like the same. >> And I I mean, I don't know why I didn't think this before, but it just kind of pops in my head. What about planting uh trees in those areas to help provide like natural shade? Um, I mean, if if if direct sunlight is the issue, I mean, you know, there might even be some programs tap into where you're adding, you know, trees

024and you get some sort of composition. I don't know. >> Maybe we can add it to ACM. >> Yeah, I think these are these are good ideas. I've heard other people have talked about, you know, >> painting different different colors. Um in that only really hap uh somebody shared no ACM one time painting our roof of our building white which I guess is used in really extreme heat conditions and was really not maybe a practical solution for us but maybe we do a deeper dive in all these topics in OECM like planting trees. Yeah. >> Uh that we can talk about the film. Yep. >> Yeah. Okay. Sounds good. >> Yeah. I'd like to reclad at the high school solar fence. >> Yeah. Solar fins can do >> solar fins. >> A lot of that

025work. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Position so that in the summer blocks the sun and the winter lets it in. >> Yeah. >> Let's do it. >> So excited about that. >> There's so for all the elementary spaces for all the elementary spaces. So there's sufficient fans and AC units for to be deployed in all of the affected areas. >> We certainly have enough fans. I mean, I was I was hearing that today. Um, we have, I think, between 30 and 40 portable air conditioning units and we're looking at probably expanding that number. Um, uh, you know, I feel like we're in a good place right now. Um, it really only gets the historical data was really eye opening. It really only happens towards the end of the school year and it really only hap and

026um it only happens where classrooms reach 88 um in you know in certain in certain buildings. So I do think we have the resources to co-op those spaces. >> Yeah. It's only a couple times out of the year. It's not like a month monthlong 30 day in a row type of thing. It might be a couple days out of the month out of you know the entire year. Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, that's true. >> Yes. Right. Yes. and and we're looking to secure possibly some more air portable air conditioning units as well. >> And for the students and faculty or staff who are working in the rooms is 82 I guess like that's the state's number like what is it like to actually teach in a room that's like 78 or 75 or or

02781 like is that >> 82 is this? So the amendment says 82 is where you have to start taking precautions and then 88 is the number where you have to start thinking about other locations if possible. >> Right. I I'm asking have we have there been conversations with staff about whether or not we should have a lower threshold for considering taking mitigation efforts. I I I I I'm trying to remember teaching in Mississippi, but I think it really sucked teaching at 80 degrees or, you know, some just >> has been had there been conversation. >> I was back >> because what I'm seeing the policy cannot drive someone's comfort in the classroom particularly when we're talking about weather >> as a person been an administrator for 25 years. This is an ongoing conversation. Rooms are

028always either too hot or too cold depending on someone's personal preference. So that is an ongoing conversation and there are people who want their rooms to be warmer or cooler then that's a sure a let's talk that's a conversation with the principal and that I just want to make sure folks know that that's been happening we're having that right now at infield for example but folks wanting their classrooms to be warm and there's no policy driving that conversation it's just about I don't feel comfortable so they're two different conversations not to say either one is good because people want to be comfortable and it's sometimes very individualistic um and and they're all they're all ongo >> we we wait to deploy the air conditioning units until we hit those numbers. Those units will go to

029the buildings for that. Also, I should say that we do have buildings that have full air conditioning right now. So, BGM has full air conditioning features. Both our middle schools and our high school has the 400 tons. So, we're really talking about more as our elementary buildings. Um so um as well as um uh we have students who have on their IEPs to have um air conditioning units in spaces as well. So so we'll we'll we'll make sure we deploy the air conditioning units well before we hit the 82 mark and we can we can set them up uh ahead of time on that as well. And I imagine, you know, uh, for students that have it on their IEPs, they'll they'll be it'll be in that classroom. Um, we'll make sure that it's in

030in the classroom well before the the first wave of heat comes, if that makes sense. >> Okay. Oh, another example by I think modernization physical plant. Jacob, to your point, I I was in South Hill in the spring two years ago and be below 82 was still really difficult in the teaching environment. So, >> so but there's practices in place where if there are concerns about individual classrooms, they like they are raised to the facilities level and there's something that happens. >> I I've been meeting fairly regularly with Aaron and Sean about deployment. We will certainly expedite our deployment of all these uh units to schools and we'll start we'll start turning them on as soon as it gets warm. We're not going to wait to 82 degrees. That's what you're asking. >> Okay. Uh

031thank you. >> Okay. So we move on consideration of accounts. >> Very good. Thank you. Lori couldn't be with us tonight the treasurer. So Emily have have provide you with that information. Okay, the normal things, the treasures report, P&L report. I know we have a lot to discuss tonight, so unless you have um any particular questions on these two reports, I'll just pass through them. Um they're pretty self-explanatory today. The one thing that uh will stand out to you this month will be the transfer report. And this is when we do the uh large transfers to balance out all the payroll codes. We call it sale salary settlement. So it just is rearranging everything for to accommodate the payroll for where people are getting paid out of. They may have started one year, we budgeted

032them in a certain budget code, then shifting happened and they're but being budgeted out of other budget codes. So this is something you're normally going to see at this time of year. It's usually a oneandone, but you may see a little bit more trickling in. But this is the big huge right sizing everything and making sure it's all right. In particular, this is a little bit more because of the negotiations not being settled uh when we went into this year. So there was a lot of speculation on our part when we were budgeting and it's shifting all this money around. Okay. So I hope that explains why that is so big this time. Um we received a donation donation um for from Boon Student Activities. Actually this is fees collected and it comes into for

033the NISA NISMA New York site music association um for the fees of the students who participate in that event. Um and then the district also supports portion of that as well. So it's kind of a shift of fees. Um, we have some surplus items, some forklifts that have been defunct for many, many years, and we're finally pushing them out the door. Um, so we can prepare to maybe uh look to getting a new one that works. Um, so those who are irreparable, just a mess. So, they're going out the door. Um, we have a few grants that have finally come in, the IDA 619, 611. And I know I'm probably going out of order. I'm going out of my head here without it in front of me. Um, and a I believe a title grant

034was finalized. So, it's just accepting these grants from the state and appropriating these funds into the into the budget. Um, and we have a couple of cooperative uh resolutions so we can participate some cooperative bidding. One is with the GST Boseies for um bread milk I believe it is. you did another one for DCMO last month allowing us to participate in that cooperative bid. And then a new one that has come about this year is uh participation in a cooperative that's run through the asgo uh OC's for water testing and sampling. Um, I'm not sure how much I'm not really uh an expert on this piece because it's more of a facilities thing, but this one is a new cooperative bid. And this just allows us to participate cooperative type um uh services that these

035folks provide to us. I think did I get everything? I think I did. Any questions on anything that I just rattled off to you? Well, >> going back to the um food service statement. Yes. >> The value of food used that category. >> Value of food used. Okay. >> What's this? How is this measured? >> Oh, this is this is the government um commodities that come in. Um so the government places values on the foods that we receive. We always have to recognize that and we actually have to do some entries to show the exp the expense and then the revenue coming in for that food. At the end of the year we we have to do an inventory of what that value is. So the values are coming in from the government commodities places

036that process those >> and then all of these under um revenue these terms are um public school education terms of knowledge. >> Yes. Yeah. They're all the revenue. Yeah. the definition of those particular revenue. The other thing I want to point >> this one doesn't seem too right to be in food um services at the top section. >> What is what doesn't seem to be >> adult sales >> we'll add something to that. Okay. >> So I'm guessing that's it's staff buying lunches, breakfast and things like that. >> I change that to a code instead. I never even thought of it. Um and then you'll also notice we are still involved in the FDA um grant. >> It is a jumping through many hoops to get those funds to come in and proving that we've

037actually spent the money. So there is slight negative in there that you'll see. We have revenue coming in from that grant. It's just I think I have two quarters put in now that I'm still getting emails from Doge and saying explain what you use this money for. So, and and I I respond and eventually they'll send us the money, but it's running a little bit behind. So, it's it's all good. >> Anything else? No. >> Okay. >> Which takes us to item six on the agenda, budget discussion. >> Very good. If you wouldn't mind. Um, so Dr. Bole asked if we could share projections for the next three years. thought well want to be able to create something where everyone would understand sort of the impact of the various variables that play into the budget.

038So we literally wrote an application to do this and I think Dr. Bas for his input uh in developing this application. So we're going to share that with the public eventually to be part of that budget book we talked about and it also gives you the opportunity to to change the variables and see how they impact budget moving forward over the next three years. So um is there any way we make that larger? You think maybe math time? >> Very small. >> It is small. >> I can LinkedIn board docs if anybody wants to click it on their computers. You can play with it there. >> So sorry >> that's okay. Let me um let me kind of go through and explain what this is first so it it'll make sense. Um >> just a

039couple things to to be aware of. >> The first section here is the 2425 school year. We add that as a baseline because we actually know those figures. Those are done. That's based on the audit and we're done here. Right. So our what this shows at the top is our fund balance from the audit for the 2425 school year. That's 30 36.3 million. Okay. The line underneath at the blue line represents our restricted reserves. So reserves for health care cap so on so forth. Right? That figure is the 21 million. The orange line down below that $6.4 $4 million. That's the 4% that New York State says we can keep as a rainy day fund. So all of that is part of our fund balance. Now the difference these don't add up to this. The

040difference would be what we utilize for our assigned fund balance that extra funding that was rolled over year to year to hopefully ease the burden on the taxpayer. So that's the difference in those dollar amounts. Good so far. Awesome. So the variables that I added here so that we could do the projection were a few things. So anticipated budget growth. Now again none of these are written in stone. This is just so we can project out. So we put 4% there. It's the average over the past three years right of how the budget grows on a yearly basis. The next thing was the additional revenue over so we looked at the past three years to see uh how much our uh additional revenue grows on average and it's about 3% that it grows. So we

041kept that at 3%. But again if you want to play you can go ahead and do that. You can see how those would have an impact. The third one is projected under spending. We we try to budget to the petting but to give ourselves some padding because it by law we can't go over budget. We live a little leave a little bit of room in there and typically that's been between two and 3% a year that under spending. So we put that there as a baseline figure. Down below the first box here is anticipated state aid. This year we know so for 2627 we know it's 9.48% overall for state aid. Okay. to be conservative because I think it's important that we do that. Uh especially looking around in some of the other districts and

042the financial hardships that they're dealing with right now. We left the next to a 3% but again you can change those. So conservative figures 3% per year. The next set of figures here is the tax level. So right now because of the tax cap and I've said this before 4.18% is the tax cap. So we put that in there as the baseline figure. Play with that as well. The last one is other revenue growth that various things u interest and so on and so forth. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure that's interest and yes other figures that we might get. So the growth for that particular figure this year for 26 27 is 2.31%. Average that's been about 3% but again this year that's where the current figure is. I won't dive into

043the bottom but I'll just show you what that looks like if we can scroll down. This gives you the financial figures and these will change as you change the variables up here. So it'll show the projected budget and it'll show all of those and how they impact out to project over the next three years. Okay, this gives you the actual financials. So here here's where the fund begins. So now 4.18 is where our tax cap is. And we were looking at other options for the tax levy. I think it's important we do that so you can see what the impact is on our fund balance. And we talked about the importance of fund balance because again that's how we borrow. That's how we're seen in terms of our quoteunquote credit rating, our bond rating, and

044so on. So um obviously if these lines get to the point where they start crossing that's when we may have an issue and we have to have conversations about that because our reserves our restricted reserves those are restricted for those particular uses right so we want to make sure that we have enough fund balance to maintain that 4% if we can and of course anything above and beyond that is helpful in terms of easing the overall burden for the taxpayer. So where do you want to begin? I can show you what that looks like. >> The link is on board. >> It is on board. I can also make changes here and you can see how it affects the graph. >> And I'll repeat this whole thing on Tuesday. Lucky here. >> So I honestly

045might better since it's really hard to see that it might be better to let folks do it on their own. >> Sure. >> Um maybe what I didn't underscore is the the power of this tool. I mean, you know, we we'd asked for a low, medium, and high projection, but what we got back is an infinite projection because you can dial in any number, any of the variables and see for yourself instantaneously. So this is a just phenomenal tool and you know I know transparency of the budget is an issue that comes up every time and you know now every member of the public every teacher everyone can go in the numbers are there they can make their own projections look at their own forecasts and see for themselves and this will be very helpful

046for us on Tuesday >> given that this is my first time in budget season I am less decent than Dr. Alexa, I actually like the tool. I appreciate I also would love like if you can you just show us tax levy like make it 2% and just talk us through how I should inter or how we should >> let's do 3%. It's a little more reasonable. Sorry. >> Sure. So let's do 3%. >> You notice how the green line dips, right? So that's the active line of 3%. It shows you the difference here from our baseline at 4.18 and what the difference is. can't see it here, but it shows you the dollar amounts we would no longer retain if that levy were to change or go out. And so, one of the things to

047keep in mind, and this isn't a sales pitch, it's more of a be aware, um, if the tax cap is 4.18, you go in under the tax cap, those dollars are lost perpetually. So, that's kind of an important thing to keep keep in mind. And it could also impact our tax cap calculations moving forward as well. So >> how could it impact it? >> Um it's part of the formula where the cap was how much to leave on the table kind of works into that formula. So it may say you don't need as much so the tax cap can be less the following year. So be cautious of that. We can actually add that to this. So you can see it. Is is there a model for that or is it kind of like an

048arbitrary analysis like ho how do they determine the impact that it would have? So if we we were you know 25 basis points under the tax cap, how could that impact how much we get next year? Do we know or is it kind of a guess? It's >> a bit of a gray area because it looks at the combined growth ratio of the of Ithaca for example. So, this is more of a common sense answer and I'll I'll get an actual formula answer for you, but my guess is that it's something along the lines if you didn't >> ask for that, you don't need it >> moving forward, but let me get definitive answer for >> Yeah, that'd be good. I'd be Thank you. Sure. >> Can Can you say what variables typically impact the

049tax levy increase that New York State allows like in an inflationary environment? Is it typically higher than a deflationary environment? and what other factors might go in because I think we're looking at some of the estimates trying to imagine okay if next year there's three in the year after there's three but it's one and two or something >> it really is based on the CPI >> yeah there's a number of factors that you know property values like I said combined wealth ratio there's a figure that I forgot where we are remember it's 24 and higher the figure is >> yeah the higher your combined wealth ratio and that's how they determine what your partially how your tax cap is calculated. So it's a number to factor in. >> It's our tax base based growth factor

050and it was um 67 um this year. So what that is is this area and how it's growing and as as compared to the rest of the state. So they give us this growth factor. That's the first thing and that gets applied to your levy from the past year. That's why if you decide to go under the tax cap, you're actually lobbing off a chunk of money that would be taken into consideration in your next calculation the following year. So that's the first step that takes that money out of the calculation. And then we have, you know, then the pilots come in, of course, we know that, but we also, what makes this more difficult for us to project is because we have the exclusions for our capital projects and our and our aids. So

051that's kind of going to be a real estimate for us to figure out where we are with our aid coming in and our expenditures on our on our capital projects for that exclusion. But the other factor is the CPI or 2% whichever is less. So it that determines so it's whichever one is less is what you use in that. That 67 in real terms means that we're essentially 67% wealthier than most comparable districts. >> Okay. >> So factor. Yeah. >> And when you say growth factor, is that based on like area mean income or is that based on student growth population? Like are we talking about >> it's income and home house values? >> Yes. >> So so a minutia question on that. We know uh from Jay Franklin's presentation that the Tomkins County Assessment

052Office is going to hold property values frozen till 2029, I believe. >> Right. >> How much is that going to? >> Well, we get a big bump then in 2029 because it's it's >> basically like like artificially withholding increases in property value and then un unreleasing releasing it I should say >> in 2029. >> There's another way to balance that factor out. its equalization rates. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah. And I think we're just seeing that hit this county because the equalization rates changed from 100% to 95% which sort of mitigates that fact that they didn't change assessments. >> So, I know you're feeling it. >> I saw it, right? So, right >> to some degree, not as much as a significant increase in assessments, but it's an attempt to try to equalize for that

053fact. They're not doing assessments. So, >> so does that mean that so basically a sort of a 5% is is that a way to think of it? It's just across the board. >> It doesn't quite work out to that, but >> I know it's not >> where you start and it's not quite five, but roughly 5%. Right. Okay. But if I could underscore again, it's a powerful tool and one of the frequently asked questions we've been getting is how we've been very clear. We have a very competitive compensation strategy for all bargaining units in our organization and we've been asked often how do we anticipate affording to do so. I think this tool answers that question. Again, we have very conservative estimates that we plug into the formula and it shows how we're projecting out

054over the next three and we could probably go out five or six if you needed. I know that would make me nervous, but for the next three years, um, we were able to keep the same compensation strategy in place and dipped into fund balances and reserves at a minimal level like we showed on the screen, even in the most conservative ways. This is really really state-of-the-art. I I haven't been to all 700 school district websites in in the state, but I don't believe any other district has this level of reporting. >> We're pulling together a document um Emily's help. um that is capturing what's happening in other school district particularly small city school districts across our state this current year um not to shame anyone just to highlight how folks are approaching budget and staffing

055and compensation and I I can say that it's not looking good across our state >> um people are cutting 60 70 positions in the current year depleting their fund balances um no pay increases like it's a tough time across our state so for us to be here talking about how we're projecting out three years at the same competition track is something to highlight for us. Um but it's taking us a while to get here too. Um but we'll share that document with the board soon just so you can have a comparison of what it's looking like and how people are approaching these uh unsettling times. >> So that's helpful. And Dom, you had sort of referenced, you know, it's important to think conservatively like the >> are were you drawing a direct contrast with surrounding

056districts not acting in that way? I'm trying to understand what is the what is the differentiating factor? >> I would not speak on their behalf. I think we've been great benefactors of taxpayer funds of the past decade and we want to continue that that action. >> So that's like the main factor you think >> benefactors and stewards. We've done everything from adjust our approach to healthcare and bringing that in house. We've managed the fund balances appropriately. Um when our budget went down, we adjusted our staffing model. Um yeah, we we cut 20% of our administrative cost, for example. We're well below what other districts like ours are when it comes to administrative staffing. Our class sizes went up. So some of the things that people are doing today that are going to hurt, we've been

057modifying and mitigating those things over the last five years from my perspective since the pandemic. So there's a lot that go maybe when we present that document we can talk about what we've been doing over the yeah I'm bald because of this but it's not hasn't been easy um and it's set our district off now but foreseeable future where we state >> J I don't want to name individual districts here in the meeting but off I can send you some links there are a lot of districts not far from us who are looking at draconian layoffs and problems and I'm feeling very good about where we are exactly what Dr. Thank you. >> Now, the budget book was introduced to us at last month's um finance committ and then we discussed it at the end

058of March. And now is this information coming from there or is it a standalone? Is it linked somewhat? >> The figures are all the figures are are baseline figures. So from 24 to 25 we use the audit to begin with, right? And then the planned budget for 20 the current budget we use as those figures. And of course the proposed budget but it's all based on the figures that we already have. So it's all in the budget book in alliance. >> This this system isn't linked to the budget book what you just shared with us. >> Link. >> There's no link that automatically. >> Oh to change the figures in the No. >> So and I'm looking back on board docs as well as online. We don't we don't put anything online until we vote

059on budget. But yet for us who need to review that, I don't see anything online. I don't see the budget book in in the prior board docs. I don't see it. Yeah, >> because we're voting on Tuesday. >> I know that should be there. We'll um update the >> We can share the language directly and then to get in. >> Thank you. >> We were talking about some different options for the budget and we're going to vote on that on Tuesday. So on Tuesday, are we going to be presented, Garrick, with one budget that we're going to say yes or no on? Because we had come up, there were some iterations, right? Uh where it was like, are we going to use fund balance? Are we going to get all of this from taxpayers? We

060talking about some different iterations. So I'm just wondering on Tuesday, are we going to be presented with some options to choose from or are we going to be presented with one option to say yes or no? >> Well, I mean, procedurally, I have to ask Dr. Bradwell we could we can put any number in a resolution right so how from a parliamentary point of view whether he wants to we could have infinite number of resolutions it's one number we're looking at um you know I think our goal had been to to recommend a number >> correct >> um I think we're going to hold off on that now ultimately you know we need tonight hone in on what number we were going to bring to y'all on Tuesday as an option and we can go

061up or down from there. Um, let's just say we're at 3.99 right now and the board may ask us to go higher all the way to the top, the 418 or go lower from the 39. That's one way to look at it right now, but we will land on a number I hope on Tuesday >> because there was discussion at um the last meeting that um when we saw the three options, >> right? >> I'm just trying to remember from that there was one where um >> taking a million dollars fund dollar, >> right? the middle one and where the I don't remember >> that was 3.18 >> sorry to the right was um the tax level was 4% >> yeah four three and two and you wanted to see what it would look what

062those numbers would impact how those numbers would impact our fund >> but the 4% one did not use any fund balance >> it uses the standard assigned fund balance that we've rolled over from your year would continue to use that but it wouldn't be an additional right use of fund balance correct And that's what this allows you to do. If you change the tax levy percent by year to 3.18, it will show you how much more fund balance that would utilize moving into the for that particular year and how that would have an impact on fund balance moving forward. >> Oh, sorry. I'm on there now. So the you lit whatever you punch in, that's where then the projections change on there. Hence, so now I'm looking at the three-year change 9.6 million at 3%,

063but at 4.18 it was like 5.2 million. >> Correct. That's right. Okay. >> And the difference there would be the additional use of fund balance, right, >> between those two figures. Well, I guess I'm just wondering who's going to make the decision about that final number that's going to be presented to the board to be voted on because I thought in this meeting tonight we were going to talk about some different options and maybe come to some kind of consensus and that was going to inform the recommendation and that recommendation would be voted on on Tuesday. Um, it just seems like it's going in a different direction. So, I'm curious what what's happen. So uh at the last meeting we're talking about looking at a a low, medium and high and we've gone now from

064three scenarios to infinite scenarios right with the tool. So that any you know we're not choosing one point we we put any any number in um we could we can that's why I recommended uh we not and maybe that's a place to start our conversation tonight. If we read 399 instead of the 418 and instead of the 3.18 which was the middle option the last time we met. How the folk feel about 39? You want us to go up higher all the way to the cap or go lower? I'm just trying to keep the conversation moving and get us to a number be recommended for Tuesday. Well, I just wanted to go back to the original because when we put some numbers on the board last time, there were definitely three numbers and that was

065that would be a good place to find an orient, but I don't remember it being like 4, 3.9 or 3.8. I felt like they were like a million dollars apart. Like one of them was dipping into fund balance. I think you had said a million dollars. >> But do you see are you on the website? Because you can punch in the number and see whatever scenario you want. >> Yes, I could I understand that. >> So that's what they're saying. We have a tool where >> we have an update. So we can do whatever we want to do. We don't have to have three scenarios. We can look at any scenario we want to look at. >> Yeah, I understand >> every option under the sun. >> But when we were talk I understand. But

066when we were talking last time as a board, we were starting the conversation by looking at like a low, medium, and high option as a way to kind of orient the conversation. I know we could put in any number we want, but me putting in a number that I want right now, like I can put in 3.726, but I don't know that that will turn into anything coming before the board. So, I think I was just trying to rewind back to the last plan that we had >> to narrow right now, >> which was when we put up three different numbers and we said we have low, medium, high, and and we were going to maybe choose between one of those three numbers. >> Oh, sorry. Sorry. My brain just jumps ahead. I feel like

067we can do that. We can sit here and put in whatever numbers we want and discuss it. Okay. >> So, we can all sit and say, yeah, what number do we want to put in? 4.18, 3.99, 3.18. But how what I'm just wondering how maybe you could answer from your own perspective like how you would orient yourself to answering a question like that with those decimals like I don't know how I would say okay 3.89 89 3.91 how what would that be based on how >> we have the people here to have a conversation it would be the same basis that we would have in a meeting but we just have multiple infinite options >> so if I can interject so thanks thank you the the idea is at least from my perspective to preserve

068our fund balance as much as we possibly can while not burdening taxpayers right that's the goal so I think as a baseline we started with those three figures it's easy to understand here's low here's the medium here's high, right? There's nothing stopping us from using those as our baseline to at this point. So, plug in 3.18, plug in 2.18, see the difference between the green line and the red line. That tells you how much additional funds we'd have to use from fund balance to support the budget. >> Can I ask a clarifying question? We did have those three numbers, >> right? >> Um, how accurate was the output of those three scenarios versus what I'm seeing here? because I almost feel like this is showing me different >> numbers. It's not >> it's within reason.

069So for example, I put in 3.18 >> y >> and the difference in fund balance used for 26 27 be 1.2 million different. So I think it was right around 1.1 or 1.14 by8. >> So we're looking at just from perspective, right? >> From a >> just from a one I'm gonna look back in the other. >> Yeah. Yeah. for one year, >> right? We previously and I I think that's maybe where the discrepancy is. It's like we we were seeing one year forward looking where this is showing three and obviously it's exponential as you go year now, >> right? Because if you do the 3.8, it's 1.2 million >> for upcoming fiscal year and it jumps to 2.4 then it goes to 3.7. So it's like >> right >> it's compounding. >> Sure. We

070didn't share 20 the two years after that. Exactly. you know, so we only share the one year which is 2627 and we're within you very small margin and that might be due to some of the parameters settings here. >> Yeah. >> So >> is it I'm looking in the um agenda from last time and I I don't see it under budget development. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So there's the increase in fund balance 1.145 and this is rounding. It showed 1.2 again me being maybe it's just a new to budget thing but you know Dr. when you talked about, you know, let's take this number and like how do we feel about it? I guess feelings just I know you didn't mean it in this way like feelings seem so arbitrary to

071me like what is I guess similar to Adam's question. What is a normal way to think about these distinctions? >> Or just the differences in tax cap numbers like like with the infinite options. >> Yeah. >> I guess going back to Adam's question like how would we think about 3.61 61 versus 3.65. Is that a level or granularity that is correct? >> This is a bit different because in the past we've gone to the tax cap or attempted to go over it, right? >> And we've gone to the tax cap strategically so that we could maintain and build our fund balances and to have a very competitive compensation strategy because we're in a stable environment right now. We are considering not going all the way to the cap. And I I think I was in

072a meeting. I reminded Sean the last time we didn't go to the CAT. It hurt us. I hurt us. We had some implications in year two and three because we didn't have that additional money to impact the formula the tax culmin so we one board member said we left money on the table. So again we we just haven't talked about not going to the cap which is a formula that's been put in place for many years to give us an indication where we probably should be taxing. Um so that's where we are in some way. Yeah. And another way to put it is, you know, instead of saying leave money at the table, lose more money than tax properties, right? Because we're not taxing them as much. So there's different different way to look at

073it, right? And we know that that that is a big issue right now is how much people have property taxes. >> Yes. >> And it's a delicate balance, right? So >> um >> yeah, I I guess I just But this is I guess I'm left with this question. So like as a governing body where we have to make a decision about this and then put something forward. I'm just really struggling to wrap my head around like 4.18 versus four versus 3.8. I know I can put the numbers in and I can look at what happens, but like I'm wondering how I should orient my decision because saving taxpayers like of course we want to save taxpayers money. So then we say okay so we'll make it four, but then I could say well if we

074want to save taxpayers money let's make it 2.5. Oh no, we shouldn't do that because that's dipping too much into the fund balance. >> How how do we >> how shall we think about So, so my understanding is is our writer looking at this formula 4.18 is basically keeping the fund balance uh steady right >> so the real question is if we go below the the tax cap we are going to have to dip into our fund balance to do it >> we do have a healthy fund balance >> so it's like is it is this an opportunity to to give some relief to the local taxpayers um you know but then there's risk with that because again going forward it impacts what we you know our tax our cap would be next year the

075following year >> um does that does that help so >> yeah so so yeah I mean that that's the question like how how do we discern like what is a healthy fund balance and I I think you know that's the conversation that we're having right just like at what point does it become you know too risky and there's there is implications because you know we have a really good credit rate which means that we make a high you know we can borrow at a lower rate So, you know, that that impact that impacts our budget. Um, right. >> You know, so there's a lot of different variables to take into account. I mean, it's it's it is complex and a lot of it is just your forecasting and and doing educated guesses on what's going

076to happen in year three, you know, and that's we don't have a crystal ball. So, that's that that is hard to kind of determine. So, >> capital has changed since the last time we met. We've had a flood that's cost >> a lot of money by building that needs to be replaced immediately. So from my perspective, yeah, we have a fun balance for those reasons. And that fund balance is going to be tipped in dipped into in a way that we didn't think about two weeks ago. >> Also trying to take some of the crystal ball out of this by giving you the variables that we look at, right? So that you can realistically say, well, budget growth at 4% saying this cup, but well, it was 5% this year. What if it's 6% next

077year? Yeah. >> You know, and you can look at that in real terms and see what it does. I would uh suggest that you look at the trajectory more than anything else because that is a key factor. You know, we have to be cautious about the trajectory we put our fund balance on. That's hard to recover from. So, think through that as well. >> Depends. I'm sorry. >> You know, I I don't It's a good question. I mean, I don't think there's a precise science to you whether it's 318 or 319. Um but you know in statistics there's this term basing updating which is new information arrives. So you sort of update based on new information. So we all know that there will be future unexpected expenses and we just know they're coming but we

078don't know what they are. But in line with the sort of notion of basian update and Dr. Brown's right. We did have a flood and we don't have the total bill yet, but we know it's going to be substantial and so I have been myself looking at somewhere in the middle, but then we have to start updating and now we know that we have this actual expense and we don't have a number for it yet. by next week will we have a better >> so you know I'm kind of tempted to um hold off until we have that number and at least update with that and I realize there's still uncertainty in the future but that you know what's happen is not uncertainty it happen so I sort of update on that and um >>

079will we be >> well we do have to vote you do have to vote Tuesday >> right yeah so on Tuesday what I'm asking is sort of like behind the scenes will a number be chosen that >> can I just say I'm recommending we do 39 and then you can say I don't like your recommendation or I do I don't think we should go above four and I like the 39 number I think we need the 39 based on what's just happened and to keep our trajectory and fund balances healthy for the next three years according to my formula here so that's exactly where I was going so I had been looking at you when we had a high medium and low I've been looking at the medium all right and you can see the

080in, you know, total cost right there on the bottom line. >> And again, I don't want to say I'm not an engineer, but I I have in the back of my head, you know, a rough idea of what I think, you know, it's going to cost to repair Kayak Heights. I don't want to rebuild that number because, you know, it just in the back of my head, but my my personal guess just having walked the building about what what it's going to cost having heard what we spent so far and looking at the situation suggests that it's going to be somewhere, you know, in in the in the difference those different scenarios, which is why I was about to say I'm kind of lying up what Dr. Brown just said, which is I think it'd

081be like to keep it below four, you know, not as a as a as a gesture to taxpayers that we know this is a a difficult time, but at the same time reflecting the fact that we now have a a a known expense that I think is going to be, you know, somewhere in the order of magnitude of the differences across these scenarios and all those things lead me to come down really at about the same place Dr. Brown said. >> Order of magnitude above the 500,000. So we have $500,000 of insurance money. Yeah. So you you think it'll be a million dollar figure, but it's going to go beyond 500,000 significant. >> So we're about to spend the large business. >> Actually, I thought you were >> No, I don't. >> No, you should

082uh visit, but >> I I I would actually let me know. >> You should walk through. >> It's revealing. you know, it's going to be more than we're going to exceed our insurance. And you know, again, my my I want to say number because I'm not trained to offer a number, but the number in the back of my head looks to be somewhere similar to those things, which is why I come down exactly where Dr. Brown came up. >> Has there been local press about what happened at Heights? Do you want >> I was thinking if that's like what I'm hearing is a rationale for a number based on an event which then people will be voting on. So would seem obvious. >> Not yet. We'll we'll have all of that as part of the

083the work that Surf Pro is doing. They take photographs share that the um so again I just want to throw this back up here and put the 3.9 in and just uh couple couple points. The trajectory is still trending downward. something to keep keep in mind. The other issue or the other point I want to bring up is that when we started this several months ago, we mentioned that you know you're looking at a strategic plan that's still part of the big picture, right? So >> that's what that is that the 3.9. >> Do you want me to set it? >> You could. Yes, please. So, so 3.9 is a difference of 332,000, >> correct? >> Total, >> you know, tax and >> and a quick caveat is, you know, hypothetically we did a lower

084number this year. You don't have to do lower number. So, this line is trending down, but that's based on keeping that levy continues. That's right. >> Or or Yeah. So, or the numbers, but if we wanted to next year, you know, with new information, we can say, "Hey, let's actually go to the tax cap just because we're having all these other unfores that does it is trending down, but it doesn't mean that it it has to continue that we can adjust next year." >> And that's a great exercise, too. You could enter 4% for 2728 and see what the trend does, right? >> Yeah. Well, I don't know what our tax cap is going to Well, that that I actually I wanted to ask that like historically, where does it fall? like >> it really

085actually Emily is working on it now. It really does depend on a number of different factors. So we we just don't have that and I don't want to say it but >> yeah is there like I'm sure we looked at like you know historically over the last 10 years. I mean I'd be curious and I think that you official making that decision too. >> Yeah. >> I mean it stays relatively the same because we've stayed the same. >> Yeah. in terms of capital project. Correct. >> Um c can you speak about the the year uh the talking about before where we went under the tax cap and there's money left on the table. Um >> yeah we at the time I believe the law allowed for districts when we made a decision to allow for

086districts if not going to the tax cap. You could use the amount of money you didn't the percentage you didn't go use as part of the tax cap. You could bank it and use it in future years. Let's say uh the tax cap of 4.18. This year we only went to three. So that 1.18% we could use in another year if the cap was and then after making the decision I think in that summer governor Cuomo changed that law. >> Got it. >> And so as a district we were here planning our had the same conversation like the time. >> Uh yeah next year we look at this again and if we need to use that 1.18 we will so that we won't have to exceed the tax cap and we can keep our fund

087balance. And we didn't have that ability. And yeah, I remember the bell sherman line around the building. We had to pull over the cap that year. >> I can't remember why, but 3% stuck in my mind is pretty much the average where we anticipate. >> Okay. >> Do we know how much $332,000 will save the average taxpayer? Like do we have a denominator? >> No. Get that for you. Would be >> probably $100,000 your house is assessed for. >> Yeah, we could get that for you. Well, just because I mean to make it a little bit like a real a real world question like okay we want to do 3.9 3.8 3.7 actually every tenth of a percent we can save the average household this much and then it's you can wrap your head around

088it a little more. >> Sure. >> I mean the per thousand rate was about don't hold me to that yet. The per thousand >> $1540 >> correct? >> Yeah. I would also love to see something like that on Tuesday because I mean because I know it's impossible to estimate but in the same way when you were like we don't know for Ka Heights in my mind I'm like 500,000 2 million 30 million like I just >> we do want to be cautious because we can't give you an exact figure we don't know that because of the overall levy don't know that yet so we can estimate the estimates about 1540 per thousand with the uh and that was at 4.18 and we can figure out What? >> We've done that calculator in the past. We

089show the average taxpayer, >> right? >> We have not. >> Oh boy. Okay. >> Well, it's from last year. >> Last year. Okay. >> The calculator is >> Yeah. >> Can I ask about the the bud the projection parameters like the budget go three? Right now you guys have it at 4%. >> Correct. >> How do you feel about that number going forward? >> It's just an average of the past few years. >> Okay. >> So, it's probably pretty solid. >> Okay. if that's a inflationary factor, right? So, if oil keeps going up, that's going to have a huge impact on that. So, I don't know. >> Yeah. >> Construction costs >> nice. The only levers we're talking about right now are fund balances. We have other levels to use. >> Staffing again, utilities again.

090So, in future years, we could use and although I'm not recommending that, we could use those raised to the budget. >> Yes. Yeah. What's the fund balance at this 3.9? Because it was 3.18 was 1. >> Can you tell me that? I can't see it. >> It's at 3.9 right now. >> Yeah. What does it take overall fund balances to next year? >> So that that that would be three years now. Yeah. Go to the first to 2627. Yeah. Right there. >> Fund balance 35,841,66. is for next year. >> Is that correct? >> Yes. Yes. >> That's the top number is fund balance. Then there's fund balance baseline unassigned and reserves. >> Right. So Oh, the number you were saying no that was for 2627. >> Correct. Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. So by 2829 it

091goes down to 30.1 if we if we use this 3.9. >> So So you do 3.9 it would drop by 332,000 the fund balance >> for next correct objection. Yes. Yes. Yes. >> We're getting we'll get the total levy for you from last last the projected overall levy and you can see how much that $300,000 that is of that large total. So the the changes >> and I think that was a discussion that we ended at the last board meeting to tap into the balance. >> Yes. So am I hearing where tentatively at 39 and go from there on Tuesday or I'm not >> I I don't know yet. I I feel like I want more information. Um >> could we get a recap of what based on this conversation? What is the information that

092you're currently planning on presenting to the I mean honestly ideally I I hope it's not a presentation. I hope it is something that we receive in advance so that we can review it because I feel like we're about to be in a position to vote on something with maybe less information than I would hope for. But like what what is the information that we are going to receive before Tuesday? >> Well, help me understand the information that you need in order to make that determination. >> I'm just trying to get a recap of what we've already said. I feel like we said a few things like what is the impact on like what is the concrete tangible to the best of our ability estimate of what impact these >> uh decimal percentages have on taxpayers.

093>> Sure. >> What is the potential impact on the tax cap or like or like what the historical data of what the tax cap has been if we go below the tax cap. I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for with there and I want to make sure I give you the right information. So you're you're asking for the historical tax levy that we've used or what the tax cap for us. What the tax I just trying to repeat things that I think were already said in this meeting. I I might be wrong. >> I I I'd like both those tax levy and tax cap. Um I think between cap I tax cap is more important because I'm just trying to understand like how to forecast out. >> Sure. Uh did you >> Yeah,

094we've got that. We've got the historical record of what we've what the levy has been, what the cap has been. Can you share that? U that's pretty easy to do. We can provide the uh per,000 tax rate uh and estimate that to some degree and show you how that will be. In fact, we could probably add it on here, see what it looks like for every,000 or however you change this, what the impact on the taxpayer would be per thousand dollars of assessed value. What I'd be apprehensive to do is include things like star equalization rate. I I don't know that you want to go there. >> I don't I don't that. >> Okay. All right. >> Because you you would reference that you need it more. What else do you >> No, I mean

095I I I I that me I'm trying to get a better understanding of of the tax levy and the impact if we go below it this year. um because I personally feel like we can. I feel like we could be closer to 3% this year and I think that we reevaluate next year and I think there's enough of a fund balance um to be able to do that. I I I wouldn't feel comfortable saying, "Hey, I want to fix that in three years because I think it is too much of an impact um over the next couple years." But that's that's where I stand and I'm not firm on it. I I again I want to kind of understand um leaving money on the table like what how how this could what what levers do

096we lose you know in three years from now if if we need to pull right so um in between three and 3.9 is about 100 grand like probably eight or nine or nine >> I'm just 800 grand so that would be 800 we wouldn't have next year as our baseline increase right >> so that's the answer Yeah. Yeah. But but but then it's like to me it's like the tax question, right? Because like right now we have we potentially have like a little over 4% 4.18 or whatever it is is our tax level. That's our cap. If next year the tax levy drops to 3%. >> Then we're automatically lose another 1.2 million from the fund balance if my math is correct. >> 1.4. >> Just because I plug it. >> Okay. So, so, so

097that that's the thing like I I just want to know that like, hey, if next year we still have the 4.8% to play with, we at that point we level out, right? So, like if I think that we can go a little bit lower this year, I want to be able to stabilize next year if need be. But if somehow we're negatively impacting negative impacting the tax levy that much by 100 basis points, that would make me question whether I want to go that way. >> Yeah, I'm shocked. I'm unsure what the trend data is going to show, but we haven't had a cap at four in a long time. >> Most of them have been in the two and three range. So, this was a one >> Yeah. >> time. >> So, if I'm

098following your line of thinking, we may not have an opportunity to get that money back because it's only going to be in a two and three, right? >> Yes. And again, I I feel comfortable for next year to be able to dip in the fund balance by a million dollars to give some relief to those taxpayers. Uh but my concern is what are we doing in year three? >> Well, you know, and there's other things that we we've been talking about. Um you know, but I I we just hit 33 for the next three years. We see what it will impact. >> And that's still a healthy place. Then you'll be asking the next superintendent to make some reduction in year four. And that's my thing is I I don't feel comfortable where things stand

099today to say I'm willing to do three three over the next three years because it we're looking at you know almost a $4 million dip in the fund balance. I think that's too much. I think that's too excessive. >> Um so that is my concern. It's like I want to be able to lower it for this next year because I think we can what happens the second year and third year and I want to make sure that we can pull that back or or stabilize it, you know, if need be. And how I'm just wondering how will you feel reassured that we can do that? I want to make sure >> just just understand I I need a better understanding of the tax level like right now it's very rudimentary and I I I >>

100you know I I think understanding his historically where it's been at kind of helps forecast a little bit really would I do this but I'm putting myself into the board members shoes right now and I was looking at the superintendent I would say this don't let it get that low bell in year three you do some hiring freezes chills Dom is assuming a 2% under spending number that is very conservative I've been here where we've done we were able to do competitive >> uh competitive salary increases because of our underpending of a budget which was managed right here. >> Yeah. >> So if I'm you I'm looking at some hey don't let it get that far. >> Yeah. >> If you think it's going to go that far then start to do some things to

101bend that curve. >> Now that's a adaptive answer to a technical problem if you me but that's going to take some experienced people to do that. >> Sell dam right there's there's there's other there's a lot of stuff. So there there's other things that I'm personally thinking about when I'm thinking about this decision. I'm like, "Hey, I think we can, you know, go to three or 3.18." I'm also thinking about like those things that we've been exploring like selling Bambi for a couple million dollar selling some other stuff for a couple million dollars which could then replenish you know as well as you know those assets assets they get sold if they get redeveloped that's then increasing the tax base right you know if all of a sudden someone builds large multif family housing on

102you know dam or something like that you know now it's bringing x amount of extra dollars into the budget every year so what I just want you guys to understand how like my thought process and how I'm approaching it >> and it's also oh sorry Oh, and that's not even straightforward because we didn't even get all of the feasibility numbers on our facility. So, when will that appear? >> Yeah. >> Selling is amazing. >> Yes. >> Information that we going to have for Tuesday. I'm following started this with I need to know before I make a decision. Everything we just said, we can't get out. Yeah. >> Get out. I'm just sharing with you guys like so you're saying closer to 3% like the um set middle number that was there 3.18. >> Yeah. Like

103I'm plugging in 3.18 which taps about 1.2 million of the fund belt >> which I would feel comfortable with just knowing we have some of these other things coming down the pipeline that are very viable and there's dam does not serve any benefit to the district. We should be selling it. It's worth certain amount of money. >> It can't be a load. >> Listen, I grew up in Dami. I was born and raised. I'm still in, you know, I'm still there. So, my parents are there. That's that's my stomping grounds. But the school, it's it's it's it's a liability. Um, and it could be an asset. So, I I'm I'm I'm thinking of things that are we're not going to have answers to on Tuesday, but that's just my thought process. >> Todd, I'm exact

104I'm in the exact same spot as you are. Um, and I I had the exact same thinking you did. Uh, I'm absolutely committed to taxpayer relief and I'm absolutely committed to coming in under the tax cap. It's just a question of how much. >> I had been at the exact number you were at. Uh and then I saw >> a huge expense with my own eyes on Tuesday. I I would go out and look at it. Um when I saw that I like, okay, I have to update based on this expense I just saw and that pushes me a little higher, but still below the tax cap. And so, you know, I think we we have to come in with the document next Tuesday. you know, whatever number is on the document, you can raise

105your hand and say, I uh I I move to amend the document to make that number another number. So, it's just what numbers on the document is just a starting point for discussion. >> Yeah. >> You know, I I'm willing to go and just say, you know, my personally that, you know, 39 might be a good number to put in the document and start from there. Um because that sort of reflects the reality of what I saw on Tuesday >> or go to 3.4 to see what that was. >> Yeah. Because I understand you're saying Pets, but then there's also taxpayers that are impacted from the last time we spoke about gas prices, right? Absolutely. >> So every day I wish to amend my recommendation and bring in 3.4 on the document for Tuesday as

106part of the resolution and then from there be a motion, a second, and we can have a discussion and adjust that number and we will bring back the information that we set. will bring back the calculator will be updated online. The book will be in board docs and I think I've one more request >> I have >> and if any if we can get this I have this projection here but if we can get it enlarged there so that >> we could at least see everyone in >> see the different members going in. >> Can we go up there tomorrow night? >> Sure. >> I was going to say when can you send an invite to the full board? Um just in case >> others are interested not interested but >> Dan can you provide

107bagels? >> I'll be going. >> There's a lot happening up there. Um >> how about board members send uh Dan Briman and myself some of your availability or when you wish when you have a block and Dan and I will clear our schedules and uh meet you there. >> That's great. That's okay. >> Yeah. me just trying to channel my inner Karen and reminds me of me often including all >> that was my >> Yeah, but I I failed. I'm a work in progress. Um I was going to Oh, I um I would I forgot. >> Oh, I remember. So, >> personally, others might feel differently. The the infinite nature of this I find overwhelming. So, personally, I would be very curious to see like say the specific difference between 3.4 4 which you just

108raised versus 3.9 as opposed to the sort of like let's all do our own calculations and I think it helps have a more shared understanding I'd be happy to sit through this just like separately before >> sure I just think that conversations generally go better when we're all looking at the same information >> or reviewing what was said Um because some of the we have some this new projection but we have to look at um what was stated at the last finance committee and prior ones as well as the last board meeting to bring it all together and how does it relate to moving forward. >> I I think that just for the record I mean I think that the starting number matters. So like whatever number gets put before the board just like it's

109powerful even though I know we can change it but as we've you know seen in other examples and meetings sometimes be hard to do that or you know if there's not a consensus or it's just a little hard to know. So that's that's kind of where my question is coming in like where's that first number? >> March 24th we were given the three numbers. >> No I Yeah. Yeah. I know. But now but on Tuesday we're gonna be given one number and it's like where where are we getting that one number >> closer to the second middle one that Emily just put up >> narrowing. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um so that's um item six uh item seven uh and item eight. So action items and agenda. We I think we

110put out some action items for you. You're going to come back with us. Yes. next week with I think Frank uh impact on median household of it'd be interesting to know like what what is the the the total dollar impact on the median uh household of a percent change in the number we're >> talking a $300,000 house right >> that >> so that I I I mean I don't think it's going to be >> I mean we'll see it is more interest get the number I don't think it's going to be >> yeah can I share. One thing that even help with everyone as they're trying to like, you know, visualize this stuff, >> like for every 10 basis points, so if it goes from like 3% 3.4%, it adds about $100,000. So if you

111go from 3 point from 3% to 3.2%, it adds $200,000 like or or I guess so it adds it, but then it takes that basically directly out of the fund balance. Okay. >> So just Yeah, it's a good good round number. Perfect. >> Yeah. Um, we're also maybe have some some more numbers on um the plug costs might have by next week. >> We're hoping. >> So, that would really help as well. Again, that's that's a known uncertainty now. That's >> Yeah. >> You know, is is that number coming directly from Tetrate Tech like they're doing their their best. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And ser working together. >> Okay. Is is there actually damage or is it more just clean? >> There's damage. >> Okay. Okay. Uh and then I mean I guess one other

112action item um yeah is there any way we can get a um I know Zoom that we have it the screen sharing I don't know if there's a way or different mode or whatever we can or just bigger project or whatever some way to get that thing so we can all get it together. Yeah, we have um Matt, correct me if I'm wrong, we still have those big reports we could wheel in here. We could steal them from >> Yeah, we can steal them from the high school. I'm sure it over here. >> Are there other action items that I'm holding together? >> No, I I I I'm really grateful you guys put this together. For me, it's super helpful to be able to like play around with the different inputs. Um so, it it's

113great. I just want to echo what you said before. It's super impactful. So, >> thank you. >> You should coffee right now. Yeah. >> Yeah. Now we're talking property that we will be speaking about. So >> it's district property. >> Okay. With next year's uh fun >> there's your mail. >> Last comment but I think we're we're moving towards joinment. It's the last comment. Uh I want to thank uh my finance committee colleagues who all went to the budget presentation last I met both. So, uh, she would thank you for going in a different light. >> I know. I don't dress up. That's most that's that's about most you're going to get >> you know, Mary Mary Grover was there. Dr. Brown was there. It was it was a good night. And um, you know,

114I just remind people Boseies is what about $28 million$25$28 million of our budget. So, it's really important for the finance committee to understand where that money is going. I mean, we had an update from the superintendent uh Boseies. So, that's an important homework for uh our committee. So, thank you all for for being there, Dr. Brown. >> And eight of our high school seniors were part of the are part of the culinary program there. They did an excellent >> amazing. The food is amazing. The shirts are amazing. So nice. >> That was nice. >> Okay. So, can we move to item nine? Ajournment. >> Yes. >> Meeting is journ. Thank you.