Lew-Port, NW voters to consider 2025-26 budget plans, board candidates

New state budget includes $37 in education funding

√ Annual school, BOE elections set for May 20

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The 2025-26 budget planning process continues for both the Lewiston-Porter and Niagara Wheatfield central school districts, following release of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $254 billion tentative 2026 fiscal year budget on April 28.

The governor’s press office revealed the state will invest at least $37 billion toward education for the coming year, along with approving a much-touted “bell-to-bell smartphone ban” in New York schools. As far as financials, “the budget includes $24.9 billion in Foundation Aid assistance, as well as new state aid to address low reading proficiency rates,” according to an online report dated April 28 in City & State New York. “But she (Hochul) did not provide any more information about Foundation Aid other than to say that they will replace antiquated poverty metrics with current census data.”

So, how will this impact the budget development process with the Lewiston-Porter and Niagara Wheatfield school districts?

For Lewiston-Porter, the district has released a $55,880,177 projected budget plan for 2025-26. It reflects a $1,149,058 increase (2.10%) over the district’s current adopted budget of $54,651,119.

By the numbers, this includes the following: $31,153,501 in funding from real property taxes, an increase of $822,063, or 2.71%; and $19,297,351 in projected state aid, a $313,702 increase, or 1.65%.

But the plan also forecasts a decline in appropriated fund balance, a drop of $700,000, or 21.88%, from $3.2 million to $2.5 million. Funding from payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) is projected to be $86,871, up 5.28 %. Additional district revenue sources listed: Other (unspecified), $2,412,454, up 12.31%; TRS reserve, $350,000, a 20.70% increase; and an unspecified tax adjustment listed at 0% as of the April 7 budget expenditure report. The plan forecasts a $0.00 final budget gap with all revenue adjustments factored in.

The district announced it will hold a budget hearing and meet the candidates night starting at 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, in the board room of the Community Resource Center, located on the north end of the Creek Road campus. Both sessions are open to the public. Candidates running for three open seats on the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education include Susan Rhodenizer, Annie Huntington, Steven Tarnowski, Carl E. Turner Jr. and Chris Bragdon. The positions are for three-year terms.

Lewiston-Porter’s annual budget vote and election will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, in the multipurpose room at the Community Resource Center. For more information, visit www.lew-port.com or contact District Clerk Marisa Barile at 716-286-7266.

In Niagara Wheatfield, the district is considering a $91,099,697 expenditure budget for 2025-26. That includes a revenue budget of $84,787,655, and an initial $6,312,042 shortfall as per the April 7 summary. This represents a $4,027,468 increase over last year.

By the numbers, the budget forecasts $4,366,042 in interfund transfers reserves and $1,916,042 in appropriated fund balance (utilizing four employee-related reserve accounts). The plan also lists $2,000,000 in capital spending for 2025 that is subject to voter approval.

The district will hold its annual budget vote and school board election from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at the Senior High School ALC room, 2292 Saunders Settlement Road in Sanborn.

Two board seats will be up for election to fill the expiring three-year terms of Robert McDermott and Julie Fago.

For more information on the NW budget and board vote, visit www.nwcsd.org or contact District Clerk Renee Torcasio at 716-215-3000.