May 12, 2025, minutes (Budget Hearing)

Date: May 12, 2025

Kind of Meeting: Annual Budget Hearing

Place: Herkimer Middle-High School District Library

Members Present: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, and Scott Petucci

Members Absent: Aleksander Verenich, Diann Fischer

Others Present: Superintendent Kathleen Carney, Chad Hess, Gina McKernan, Zachary Abbe, Maria Lindsay, Renee Vogt, and Cristi Paragi

President Crandall called the hearing to order at 6:00 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was said. 

Approval of the Agenda:

Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Collis seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted.  All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0

2025-2026 Budget Hearing Presentation

• Mrs. Carney and Mr. Hess presented a PowerPoint on the proposed 2025-2026 budget.  Herkimer Central School District residents will vote on the district’s proposed $35,250,696 budget for the 2025- 26 school year. The proposed budget would maintain all programs and staff and would stay under the tax levy limit. The proposed budget would be a 3.88% increase from the 2024-25 spending plan. It includes a tax levy increase of 1.75%, which is below Herkimer’s tax levy limit of 4.42%, as calculated using the state’s formula. The district has been under the levy limit for 14 of the 15 years since the limit’s inception in 2012-13, and the one year over the limit was a 0% increase. Over the past five years, the district has maintained a tax levy increase of below 1.75% – with three of the five years at 0%.  The school budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Middle-High School Library from 12-8 p.m.

Public Comment:  

None

On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Collis, the Board of Education entered into Executive Session for the purpose of legal and personnel issues. The Board may take action in public session after the Executive Session ends and the Board returns to public session. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.

Executive Session:

The Board moved into the Executive Session at 6:28 p.m.

The Board exited the Executive Session at 7:15 p.m.

Adjournment:

On a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Mihevc, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 7:18 p.m.  All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.      

                                                                                    ______________________                                             
Gina A. McKernan
School District Clerk