LIBERTY – On Tuesday, April 22, Liberty Central School District Board of Education approved a $68.5 million budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year that maintains programs while enhancing goals and procedure alignment as well as efficiencies district-wide without increasing the tax levy.

This is the seventh consecutive year there is no proposed tax levy increase. 

The vote will take place from 11am-8pm Tuesday, May 20, in the high school media center.

There will be a series of budget information sessions, to which the public is encouraged to attend:

• May 5: Budget presentation to the Liberty Town Board, 6:30pm, the Senior Citizens Center at 119 N. Main St.

•  May 6: Budget hearing, 6 pm, High School Auditorium

• May 8: Budget, Dinner and a Concert, 5:30pm, HS Media Center

•  May 9: Budget talk, 8:30-11:30am, New Munson Diner, 12 Lake St.

The proposed $68,508,362 budget increases spending 0.70%, or $474,068 and would fund all current student programs and services. 

Based on the governor’s budget proposal’s state aid projections, the district expects an overall slight decrease in state aid, with the tax levy remaining at $17,760,162, the same as the 2024-25 budget.

There also will be three board of education seats on the ballot. On the ballot, in the order they will appear, are Miriam Rivka Singer, incumbents John L. Nichols and Timothy Hamblin, Miriam Heimlich and incumbent Matthew DeWitt. 

The elected candidates will serve three-year terms running July 1, through June 30, 2028.

For more information on the budget, including voter information, visit the district budget information page on the website.

Cooling capital project 

Also on the ballot is a nearly $7.5 million capital project proposal. The project would add cooling units to portions of the elementary school to address recent state legislation that sets a maximum temperature of 88 degrees for educational and support services spaces.

The district is working with architecture and engineering firm LAN Associations and construction management firm Schoolhouse Construction on the project.

The capital project is not expected to have a tax impact as $1,125,000 would be used from available fund balance and the remaining amount reimbursed through state capital project aid.

The project would be done in conjunction with HVAC work approved by voters in a capital project vote in January 2024.

Rather than adding just heating units to 38 classroom spaces, a counseling and AIS space, if approved on May 20, the units would be heating and cooling units in the original section of the building. The main office, faculty area and nurses office will also be upgraded.

“It is more cost effective to build this into an ongoing project, rather than retrofitting units at a later date,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.

Studies have shown that students who have a comfortable learning environment have more success. If classroom temperatures cannot be kept to below 88 degrees, it could cause disruptions, including possible school closures.

“We are aware that portions of the Elementary School can get hot during extreme heat days,” Sullivan said. “While this project would not be completed until after the law goes into effect on Sept. 1, this would help us in the future.”

If approved, the project, which also includes electrical and boiler upgrades at LES as well as ancillary work, would be scheduled for possible completion before the 2026-27 school year. More details on the project will be shared later on the district’s website, www.libertyk12.org.

Voting will take place between 11am and 8pm, Tuesday, May 20, in the Liberty High School media center. For more details on voting, visit https://www.libertyk12.org/department-services/business-office/.