By DOUG LAROCQUE
NEW LEBANON–At the regular session of the New Lebanon School Board on Wednesday, March 6, most of the meeting time was dedicated to Superintendent Andrew Kourt’s final 2024-25 school budget presentation. And most of that presentation was bad news.
Superintendent Kourt indicated expenses have increased nearly $1.2 million over the current year’s spending plan. That equates to an 8.6% hike.
At the time of the meeting, Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal looked to eliminate the current Foundation Aid formula, which considers aid levels year to year, and replaces it with a 20-year school population average. Mr. Kourt said that approach showed New Lebanon as having decreasing numbers of students, but when compared to the previous years, the numbers are actually up 7%
Since that meeting, the opposition to the governor’s proposal has ballooned into action by both the state Senate and Assembly. Part of the process in negotiating a new state budget, each house of the legislature drafts their own proposal. In both of these “one-house bills,” the Foundation Aid along with a 3% increase has been put forth. That was very good news for Superintendent Kourt, who told The Columbia Paper, “This is a very promising update. I am being told that it is not definite and they will have to still conference, possibly negotiate, and vote.”
The board has a budget workshop slated for April 10 and Mr. Kourt adds, “We are hopeful that we might have more definitive information at that time and the board then will have to decide on how to balance the budget by using tax dollars, fund balance, reserves, possible reductions, and other means discussed.” Without the restoration of the Foundation Aid, New Lebanon is facing a budget gap of $1.5 million. Something not easily made up, especially considering salary increases, insurance premium hikes and retirement contributions the district has no or very little control over.
The district is represented in the assembly by Didi Barrett (D-106th) who describes herself as a strong proponent for the restoration of Foundation Aid, saying “The proposed formula and elimination of the ‘hold harmless’ provision would have had a devastating impact on most of the schools in my district — with some districts facing proposed cuts of more than 30%. I pushed back hard against these proposed cuts, and I am pleased that the Assembly’s one-house budget proposal fully funds Foundation Aid.”
The Columbia Paper plans to attend the budget workshop and will report on what the proposed spending plan looks like after the meeting. The board must have the budget finalized in time for a May public hearing and district vote.
