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City councils

RCSD Board Approves $1.1 Billion Draft Budget

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Rochester City School District has taken a significant step towards finalizing its largest budget yet, with the district's board of education approving the 2025-26 budget draft. The spending plan, totaling $1,117,571,955, represents a 4.3 percent increase over the previous year's adopted budget. The majority of the general funding comes from state sources, with real property taxes, local sources, and federal funding making up the remaining portion.

Key Takeaways:

  • The draft budget, totaling $1,117,571,955, is 4.3 percent higher than the 2024-25 adopted budget.
  • 84 percent of the general funding comes from state sources.
  • The draft calls for hiring 107 paraprofessionals (an increase of 20.4 percent) and 22 teaching assistants (7.7 percent).
  • 92 teachers (a 2.9 percent decrease), 18 civil service positions (a 1.3 percent decrease), and 4 administrators (a 1.5 percent decrease) were cut from the previous year's budget.
  • The district's fund balance was not used in this budget, a goal prompted by potential changes or backlash at the federal level.
  • The budget will be amenable for the incoming superintendent, Eric Rosser, who will likely make changes.
  • Commissioners Cynthia Elliott and Beatriz LeBron-Harris were absent for the vote, while Commissioner Jacqueline Griffin expressed concerns about unanswered questions during the budget process.

Statistics:

  • $1,117,571,955: Total budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
  • 4.3 percent: Increase in the draft budget compared to the 2024-25 adopted budget.
  • 84 percent: Portion of general funding coming from state sources.
  • 12.3 percent: Contribute to general funding through real property taxes.
  • 3.1 percent: Contribute to general funding through local sources.
  • 0.4 percent: Contribute to general funding through federal funding.
  • $613 million: State aid revenue received by the district.
  • $604 million: Expected state aid revenue when the budget was developed.
  • 4 administrators: Positions cut from the previous year's budget (a 1.5 percent decrease).
  • 18 civil service positions: Positions cut from the previous year's budget (a 1.3 percent decrease).
  • 92 teachers: Positions cut from the previous year's budget (a 2.9 percent decrease).
  • 107 paraprofessionals: New hires representing a 20.4 percent increase.
  • 22 teaching assistants: New hires representing a 7.7 percent increase.

Sources:

  • Rochester City School District board of education meeting minutes (https://www.rcsdk12.org/cms/lib/NY01001156/Centricity/Domain/92/PDF%202025-2026%20Proposed%20Budget%20Report%20-%20Updated%202025.05.12%20For%20Adoption.pdf)
  • RCSD board president Camille Simmons's public statement (https://youtu.be/2ESFoDkXVB0)
  • Rochester Beacon article (https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/05/13/rcsd-board-approves-1-1-billion-draft-budget/)

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