BCS Budget Reviewed

Brookfield Central School will conduct a confidential search to find its next superintendent.

Also at their March Board of Education meeting, the resignation of longtime Board member Bernie Whitacre was accepted due to health issues.

The one-hour public session included a review of the draft 2026-27 budget by Business Manager Tiffany Lopesz.

Lopesz said the second draft of the $8.5 million budget is a 2.97 percent increase from this year’s.

Some additional expenses are salaries, including for the new superintendent; Employee retirement and insurance will increase at least $10,000.

Operations will drop $65,000 because the District will not buy a plow truck.

BCS will buy two buses, a large one and a small one. Cost of buses is up $52,000.

Debt payments will go up $79,700. Teacher salaries will increase to add an elementary reading teacher.

Adding the teacher will overall save money by not using a BOCES employee. A grant for teacher aides will save $12,000.

Homebound services for students will increase $32,000.

BOCES Special Education programs are up $64,000.

Increased participating in the BOCES Career Tech program increases the cost.

This year BCS went with no increase in the tax levy, which added no revenue to the budget.

For 2026-27 BCS is looking at a 2 percent increase, which would add $33,750 in revenue.

State aid is expected to increase $40,000 in one category.

Overall revenue is projected to increase $318,151.

The Board plans to adopt the budget at their April meeting.

Residents will vote May 19.

Valerie Nolan was elected president of the Board through June.

Cory Grey was elected vice president.

Both took their ...