The Fayetteville-Manlius School District is moving closer to finalizing its 2026-27 preliminary budget to present to its board of education at the end of April.
In New York state, school districts report spending in three categories: administrative, capital and program. At the F-M Board of Education’s March 9 meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Brad Corbin discussed the capital and administrative portions of the 2026-27 preliminary budget. He noted that capital expenses are the main driver of the district’s overall 5.22% projected spending increase compared to the current school year.
Capital
The capital component includes items such as facility costs, debt service on buildings and bus purchases, items that are often supported by state aid. Overall capital expenses are projected to increase 22.6% in 2026-27, with debt service alone increasing 39.6% compared to the current year. The district is anticipating allocating $21.3 million toward capital costs, including $11.9 million for debt service payments.
“If you look around at our school facilities, you’ll see the improvements we have made in recent years to our teaching and learning spaces,” Corbin said. “We have modernized our facilities and made critical infrastructure repairs as well as safety and security improvements district wide.”
More than half of the preliminary budget’s approximate $6.1 million increase is due to debt payments related to capital project work at F-M High School, roofing projects at Eagle Hill and Wellwood middle schools, the high school and the District Office Building and safety and security upgrades across the district.
The district is projected to receive about $3.3 million in state building aid during 2026-27, which will help offset its approximate $3.5 million increase in debt payments related to the completion of the high school capital project.
The district is also anticipating an 18% increase in its gas and electric costs due to higher projected prices and delivery costs, which also fall within the capital component.
Administrative
The administrative portion of the preliminary $122,496,620 budget is projected to increase about 2.59%, with about $7.3 million allocated in this area. Administrative costs include the overall management and governance of the school district, including administrators’ salaries and benefits, board of education expenses, legal services, auditing, public information and business office operations.
Projected insurance increases of 17% related to cyber insurance and building replacement costs also fall within this area, and $125,000 is allocated toward BOCES capital improvement projects, the cost of which all BOCES component districts share.
Program
The program component is always F-M’s largest of the three spending categories. This includes costs directly related to instruction, student support and transportation, including teacher and staff salaries and benefits, instructional technology, special education, co-curricular activities and athletics. Corbin will be detailing the program component at the board’s March 23 meeting.
Next Steps
March 23: Board of Education Program & Revenue Component Presentation
April 20: Board of Education Overall Budget Presentation and Budget Adoption
May 11: Budget Public Hearing
May 19: Annual School Budget Vote