Medina school district proposes first tax increase in decade

Rising utility costs biggest factor in district seeking 2% increase

Photo by Tom Rivers: Medina is proposing a $39,884,316 budget for the 2022-23 school year. Voting is May 17.

MEDINA – The Board of Education is proposing a $39,884,316 school budget that goes before voters on May 17. The spending plan calls for a 2 percent tax increase, the first in a decade in Medina.

The board and Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, said the “runaway escalation of utility costs” is the biggest factor in the tax increase.

The district still remains below the state-imposed tax cap, Kruzynski said.

The represents a 1.43% increase over 2021-2022. The proposed budget maintains all programs and staffing, increases student support services, purchases three large school buses and one wheelchair bus, the replaces maintenance equipment, adds new cafeteria tables for Oak Orchard Primary School, and returns a high school musical to the Medina auditorium. The district has been sharing the high school musical with Lyndonville.

“I am pleased to present a budget for the upcoming school year that balances the community’s financial needs with the educational, social and emotional needs of our students,” Kruzynski said.

The tax levy, what Medina collects in taxes, increases from $8,641,861 to $8,814,697. The tax rates will be set in August by the Orleans County Department of Real Property Tax Services.  State aid is the biggest source of revenue for the district at approximately $29,100,598.

In August, the Orleans County Department of Real Property Tax will set the final municipal tax rates.

“Much thought and discussion went into creating this budget,” said Wendi Pencille, the board’s vice president. “Considering the current state of inflation, the board and administration worked extremely hard to control costs. It is a sound budget and represents the board’s commitment to providing an excellent education for our students at a cost that the district can support.”

Voting on the budget will be from noon to 8 p.m. on May 17 in the District Office board room at One Mustang Drive.

There is still time for candidates to submit petitions to run for the Board of Election. Petitions signed by at least 25 eligible voters in the district are due at the district office by 5 p.m. on May 2.

Petitions can be picked up at the District Office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.  The seats up for election are currently held by Pencille and Debbie Tompkins.