The evening of 2025-04-08 was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education (BoE).
Topic of the evening was next years budget environment. Which Gene (Superintendent) referred to as “worrisome“. Despite that, he and his team proposed a budget for next year.
To summarize the presentation: Total budget goes up ~6%. Levy increases ~3%, to the limit (because in New York, 2% never actually equals 2%). There is uncertainty if the ~$1.1 million in the budget from the Federal government will be there next year. And health insurance costs are going up ~$1.4 million.
Budget was balanced from last meetings gap by: Factoring in retirements (and not filling a vacancy), cutting back on equipment/supplies, using a little more reserves, but mostly by not doing many of the new requests.
There was alot of talk about substitute teachers. In particular, regular subs that come in each day vs subs that are called in as needed. The former costs more, but makes for a smoother process. The later saves money, but can make mornings chaotic.
An interesting comment about ‘people not answering their phone’ was made. This stood out to me because I always make a point to try to answer my phone when it rings. Especially if it happens to wake me up. But that’s because the way I use ringtones and ‘do not disturb’ means if I’m being woken by a phone call, it’s an important call. I suspect I’m not standard in this, so it leaves me wondering how many people don’t answer ringing phones anymore. And what that means for communication in general.
And there was some talk about breaking the tax cap… eventually. Not this year, but looking town the road, the need was being anticipated. Which fits with past conversations. Namely, that successfully exceeding the cap will take a few years of getting the voters ready for it. Not surprising us one election, but setting the stage years in advance.
Besides the budget…
Bids were accepted for the next phase of capitol projects, totaling ~$11.5 million. And pictures of the current project were shared.
And the upcoming season of HFL Oversimplified was teased. But that’s back to budget again…
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the April 8, 2025 meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education.
Agenda’s and similar information can be found at HFL’s BoardDocs page. While a recording is also available.