Fredonia CSD Board Adopts Budget, Seeks 2.59% Tax Levy Increase

The Fredonia Central School Board has a budget proposal in place for the 2025-2026 school year for district voters to consider. After more than 90 minutes of discussion during a special meeting Thursday evening, the district's Board of Education voted 5-1 to adopt a $38,336,005 spending plan. It increases spending by 5.23% and raises the tax levy by 2.59% from this year. Superintendent Brad Zilliox said the special meeting was called because there were still a lot of unknowns that needed to be cleared up, including New York State's budget...

Brad Zilliox: going with Governor Hochul's original proposal

Most of the tax levy increase comes from a one-time 1.9% hike from Proposition 1 of the district's capital improvement project, which voters passed in December. The lone board member who voted against the tentative budget was Brian Aldrich, who sought a tax levy increase of no more than 2%. Aldrich says his concern is the massive tax hike looming in the Village of Fredonia's tentative 2025-2026 budget...

Brian Aldrich: village taxes increasing by 65%

The spending plan that was initially presented by Business Administrator John Forbes contained an overall tax levy hike of 2.99%, but was reduced after some discussion. Aaron Marshall was absent from Thursday's meeting. The tentative budget will go up for a district-wide vote on May 20th.

Photos by Greg Larson