The school budget is the biggest investment the community collectively makes with its tax dollars. District leaders work to make the most effective use of resources to benefit students, to develop and manage the budget in a responsible and transparent manner and to be accountable to taxpayers.
Each spring the board of education adopts a budget for the coming school year for a community vote. New York state has designated the third Tuesday in May as the date for school district budget votes.
2025-26 Budget
Vote
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Proposed Budget Highlights
- Proposed budget: $116,419,548
- Proposed budget increase: $5,164,669 or 4.64%
- School tax levy increase: $2,579,731 or 3.56%
- Also on the ballot:
- School bus purchasing proposal not to exceed $1,513,315
- Three (3) seats on the F-M Board of Education
- Two (2) library propositions: Fayetteville Free Library and Manlius Library
Timeline
May 12: Board of Education meeting and budget hearing
May 20: School district budget vote
News
April 22, 2025: Five candidates running for board of education; three seats available
April 21, 2025: Join us for Parent Council May 1 to discuss school district budget
April 4, 2025: F-M conducts trial runs with electric buses; Performance falls short of expectations
March 3, 2025: Board of Education petition packets available at F-M District Office
Required Budget Postings
New York State Education Law requires school districts to post specific documents related to the operating budget.
- The proposed budget must be presented in three-part format separated into three components: administration, program and capital. This has been shared with the community on page 3 of the district’s annual budget newsletter.
- Property Tax Report Card
- Financial Transparency Report
- Salary Disclosure Requirements
- New York State School Report Cards
- Exemption Reporting for Taxing Jurisdictions
What is the difference between the tax levy and tax rate?
The tax levy is the total amount of money a school district raises in taxes each year from all property owners in the district. Tax rates are calculated by dividing the total amount of the levy by the total taxable assessed value in a community. Tax rates are affected by changes in municipal assessments and state equalization rates, which are determined in the summer. The tax rate is used to calculate each individual property tax bill.
What is the tax levy limit, or tax cap?
The tax levy limit is the highest allowable tax levy (before exemptions) that a school district can propose as part of its annual budget for which a simple majority of voters (50 percent + 1) would be required for authorization. Any proposed tax levy amount above this limit would require budget approval by a supermajority (60 percent or more) of voters. The tax levy limit sets a threshold requiring districts to obtain a higher level of community support for a proposed tax levy above a certain amount.
School tax information
Tax rates for each municipality within the district are set each August. They are based on the tax levy for the year and final municipal assessments for each of the towns. Tax rates vary between towns because property in each is assessed at different levels in relation to full market value. The state assigns each town an equalization rate to fairly divide the tax levy between the towns.
The district does not control any part of the assessment or equalization process. Questions about assessments and equalization rates should be directed to the appropriate town assessor’s office.