Auburn, NY: District faces increasing costs; "incoming kindergarten students with higher needs"

May 11, 2026, Auburn school officials warn of long-term financial strain despite balanced budget proposal

Leaders of the Auburn Enlarged City School District say the district’s proposed $112 million budget for next school year may balance on paper, but long-term financial pressures tied to staffing, transportation and state aid uncertainty are already creating concerns about the future.

During an episode of Inside Government with Guy Cosentino, Superintendent Misty Slavic and Business Manager Tessa Crawford outlined the district’s proposed 2026-27 spending plan, which carries a 2.43% tax levy increase and uses approximately $1.25 million in fund balance to close remaining gaps.

The proposed budget totals just under $112 million, an increase of roughly $4.7 million, or 4.34%, over the current year. Officials said much of that growth is being driven by contractual salary obligations, rising health insurance costs, transportation expenses and special education needs.

District officials said Auburn is currently projecting a 2.7% increase in state aid based on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal, though some of that increase is reimbursement-based and tied to spending requirements.

The uncertainty surrounding the overdue state budget remains a major concern. Crawford said the district is using the governor’s proposed numbers in its budget calculations and would use any additional state aid approved by lawmakers to reduce reliance on fund balance rather than lowering the tax levy. . . .

The budget also includes several additions tied to special education services, including three special education teaching positions, three teacher assistants, three teacher aides and a speech therapist. Slavic said the additions are needed both for incoming kindergarten students with higher needs and for older students aging into new grade levels that require expanded programming.

At the same time, the district is cutting or restructuring positions elsewhere. Officials said the plan eliminates approximately 6.5 support staff positions through restructuring, removes three teaching positions through attrition and restructures three administrative positions.

Summer school programming is also being preserved despite the expiration of federal pandemic-era funding. Officials said the district previously used COVID relief money to support portions of its elementary summer programming but will now absorb those costs into the regular operating budget. . . .