OSWEGO – Dr. Raymond W Kilmer, superintendent of Oswego City School District, recently attended a meeting of the Oswego Rotary Club to discuss the proposed budget for the next school year. Club President Dr. David Granoff introduced the program.
Dr. Kilmer explained that the 2025-26 budget must be fiscally sound, flexible, adaptive, and meet the cash requirements necessary to operate the organization given changes in State Aid flow schedules and adjustments. Effort to protect the expenditures that most directly affect the students was paramount in building the budget.
The 2025-2026 budget proposes a $4,486,159 overall increase from the current year’s $112,153,995 to next year’s $116,640,154 with no increase in property taxes. Program expenses will increase $6,188,578 and administrative will rise by $783,585, while capital expenses will decrease $2,486,004.
The anticipated income for next year’s budget includes 47.09% from state aid, 4.83% from state building aid, 23.91% from property taxes, 22.35% from PILOT agreements, and 1.82% from other sources. There will be no change in property taxes and no reserve funds will be used.
He noted that the district’s long range facility plan aims to level out the annual expenditures for capital projects, so they are about $25 million each year, thus avoiding excessively high demands in some years. The district is self-funded for employee health care. About 80% of the district’s expenses for BOCES services comes back to the district the following year.
Residents of the school district will have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, May 20, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The ballot will include propositions for the annual budget, purchase of school buses, and approving the budget for Oswego City Public Library. In addition, voters will also elect two candidates for the school board and two trustees for the public library.
Voters with questions may call the superintendent or the District Clerk Diane Schrader at 315-341-2001.
Anyone interested in becoming a Rotarian or to learn more about Rotary’s humanitarian work around the world and in the community is invited to attend a meeting of the Oswego Rotary Club any Tuesday at noon at Bishop’s Commons. The building is fully accessible with convenient parking. Visiting Rotarians and guests are always welcome and may reserve lunch by contacting [email protected].
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