Investing in our Future-Ready Raiders: 2023-2024 FCSD School Budget

The 2022-2023 school year has seen exciting innovation, a return to beloved traditions and a renewed sense of purpose and resolve in the Fairport Central School District. We are redefining what it means to be student-citizen of the Fairport community - with an eye on the future and a firm commitment to academic growth and success for all students!

Your investment in our Future-Ready Raiders allows our educators to serve each child, every child and the whole child. That investment and your belief in our commitment to our students and the wider community are part of what makes Fairport a special place.

As we look forward to exciting things coming in the new school year, we encourage you to read about the amazing things happening every day in our Fairport schools. The efforts of each staff member to create welcoming and affirming environments for our students cannot be overstated. We are proud to present a school budget that focuses on our community’s priorities of supporting student mental health, continuing a tradition of academic excellence and opening doors to enriching and exciting experiences for our students.

• Click here to view the 2023-2024 Budget Edition of the Commentator.

Please check out the videos below to learn more about the power of Investing in our Future-Ready Raiders, and how the team at the Fairport Central School District builds the budget!

Visit our social media channels to see all the amazing things happening every day in the Fairport Central School District!

2023-24 Budget Goals and Timeline

• Prioritize equitable access to:
  • Student-centered and whole child educational programming
  • Modern and safe facilities
  • Sustainable operations
• Keep long-term fiscal sustainability at the forefront of our budget process with a focus on:
  • Maintaining a strong financial position
  • Preserving the District’s strong bond rating
  • Managing District reserves relative to potential future General Fund costs associated with the expiration of Federal Stimulus dollars

Just the Facts:

Total proposed budget: $151,722,002

• Budget growth, year over year: 5.31% increase over last year’s budget
• Proposed tax levy increase: $24.24 per $1,000 of assessed value, a 2.98% increase.

Budget Expenditure Components

What is the difference between a budget increase and a tax levy increase?

• Budget increases represent the growth of all the things the District needs from year to year - including academic programming, extracurricular activities, transportation costs, salaries, benefits, maintenance, the cost of inflation, minimum wage - everything that makes an organization responsive to its constituents.
• Tax levy increases are the changes to the total amount of money to be raised locally through taxes by the District to help support the proposed budget.

What do the budget increase and tax levy increase look like in the proposed 2023-2024 budget?

• The budget increase for the proposed 2023-2024 FCSD school budget is 5.31%.
• The tax levy increase for the proposed 2023-2024 FCSD school budget is 2.98%.

Isn't the New York State tax levy "capped" at 2%?

• The tax levy "cap" law does not restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2%. Instead, each district has to follow an eight-step calculation to determine its individual "tax levy limit". That limit is defined as the highest allowable levy the District can propose and still only require a simple majority of voters to pass the budget. This year’s proposed tax levy increase is compliant with the NYS tax levy law.

What factors affect the District's tax levy limit calculation?

• The prior fiscal year's tax levy
• Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) received in prior fiscal year
• The growth factor of the tax base (Perinton)
• Exemptions in prior year (capital and court orders)
• Allowable levy growth factor (accounting for inflationary change)
• PILOTs receivable in the coming fiscal year
• Available "carryover" (if any)

Once the limit is calculated through the formula, what additional costs can the District add to the levy?

• Exclusions are expenses that the District can add to the tax levy limit. For example, pension rate contribution increases, the local share of debt on capital projects and school bus purchases are all exclusions to the tax levy limit.

How did the District arrive at the 2.98% tax levy increase as proposed in the 2023-2024 budget?

• The 2.98% tax levy increase was determined by adding the calculated tax levy limit to the exclusions and figuring out the maximum allowable levy that the District could propose while still requiring a simple majority of voters (50% + 1) to pass the budget.

Why is the growth in spending on Debt Service in the proposed budget such an increase over last year's budget?

• The increase in Debt Service spending is part of the planned phase-in of new debt from the voter-approved 2019 Fairport Forward Capital improvement Project. Voters signed off on the project that includes academic and programmatic upgrades, including: renovated science classrooms, a new cafeteria and multi-purpose athletic fields at Fairport High School; safety and security and infrastructure improvements at our elementary and middle schools; and renovations to science at technology rooms in our middle schools.The District manages this increase in spending by using state building aid and money from the Debt Service Fund to help cover a portion of the costs.

Board Candidate Information

2023:

Erica Belois-Pacer (Incumbent)
Resident of Fairport for 15.5 years, Silver Birch Circle
Three students in the District, at Johanna Perrin and Fairport High School

Employer: National APSE
Position: Professional Development Director

Biographical statement:
When I ran for the Fairport School Board in 2020, I was happy to step up and run during a time with many unknowns. Over the past three years I have worked hard to listen to all perspectives and support students, staff, and families in the Fairport Community. Having three students in the district with different interests, activities, and school experiences allows me to hear from and collaborate with numerous community members. My background as a teacher in a local school district led to the opportunity to develop curriculum and train educators and Employment Support professionals across NY State. Currently I work for a national organization training, supporting, and advocating for state agencies, school districts, and people with disabilities to ensure employment for all. I would use my experience with diverse educational systems to increase opportunities for all students and families within the Fairport School District.
 

Lisa Christensen
Resident of Fairport for 9.5 years, Kirkby Trail
Four students in the District, at Brooks Hill, Martha Brown, Minerva DeLand and Fairport High School

Employer: Liberty POST
Position: Itinerant Speech-Language Pathologist, Early Intervention and Preschool

Biographical statement:
I have a track record of involvement in and commitment to Fairport schools. I approach difficult decisions in a level-headed and data-driven way while actively seeking to understand all perspectives on an issue. I would contribute in a meaningful way to some of the district's current pressing initiatives such as launching the new literacy program, planning a master schedule and enrichment for grades 6-8, increasing access to UPK, and planning for the Minerva merger.

Nicole Thibault
Resident of Fairport for 17 years, Waterford Way
Two students in the District, at Fairport High School and Minerva DeLand, one graduate

Employer: Nazareth College
Position: Coordinator of Operations for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department

Biographical statement:
I'm Nicole Thibault, and I am running for a seat on the Fairport School Board of Education.
My family has lived in Fairport for 17 years, and we've seen our oldest son through his first day of kindergarten to graduating from the Fairport High School in 2022. As a parent of three kids, I have been actively involved with our kids' education at every stage. We've had such positive experiences with the special education programs and the honors programs in the Fairport schools. Over the years, I often volunteered my time with classroom activities, field trips, Drama Club productions and events, and with our kids' Scout Troop. I believe that my family's experiences with the Fairport schools enable me to represent the interests and needs of families in the Fairport district. I would love the opportunity to continue to advocate for Fairport families as a Board of Education member.

Voter Information and Requirements

Voter Eligibility
To be eligible to vote on the school budget on May 16, 2023 a person must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a United States citizen
• Be a resident of the Fairport Central School District for at least 30 days preceding the vote

Voters do not have to own property in the school district. Voter registration is not required. Voters do not have to be a parent or have children in the school district.

Voting Procedure
Voters must provide one proof of residency such as a driver’s license, a non-driver ID card, voter registration card, or utility bill. Each voter is also required to sign his or her name and address.

Absentee Ballots
Residents unable to vote on the school budget on May 16 because of disability, illness, or travel may request applications for absentee ballots by contacting the District Clerk at (585) 421-2010 or via email at palexander@fairport.org. Ballots must be returned to the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on May 16, the day of the vote.

Message from the Superintendent - April 21, 2023

Dear Fairport community,

I am pleased to announce that at the April Board of Education meeting, the BOE approved the District’s proposed 2023-2024 school budget.

• You can find the budget adoption presentation linked here. The 2023-2024 budget is aligned to the Board of Education’s objectives and District goals for investing in our Future-Ready Raiders.
• The $151,722,002 total budget equates to a 5.31% increase over last year’s budget, and is in compliance with the Property Tax Levy Limit. The estimated tax rate is a projected $24.24 per $1,000 of assessed value, a 2.98% increase.
• Visit our Budget webpage to learn more about the budget and the three Board of Education candidates.

Please mark your calendars: the public hearing for the 2023-2024 Budget is on May 2 at 6:30 at Fairport High School, Room 512.

The annual Budget Vote and Board Election is Tuesday, May 16, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Johanna Perrin Middle School.

Brett Provenzano, Superintendent of Schools