Oakfield-Alabama Central School District has a 2025-26 budget of $25,555,345 -- a 2.13% increase from the current academic spending plan -- for voters on Tuesday.
If approved, it will introduce significant changes to the OACS District, including the purchase of three new diesel-powered buses, enhanced funding for contractual and equipment expenditures, and increased investment in instructional facilities and services.
Notable areas of expanded support include special education, substitute teaching, textbook procurement, athletics instruction, career and technical education, and mental health counseling.
Additionally, $5.33 million is proposed to fund expenses necessary for the completion of the 2025 Capital Project, which aims to refurbish the OACS track, football field, and its associated parking lot. To offset these financial allocations, reductions will be made to line items such as instructional salaries, media and library funds, co-curricular activities, BOCES services, and the summer school program, which saw ‘insufficient turnout’, according to Principal Matthew Peterson.
CORRECTION: The $5.33 million represents the Capital Component of the 25-26 budget. This amount is not used to fund expenses required for completing the current Capital Project. The Capital Component provides funding for the day-to-day operations of our buildings and property, including maintenance, school bus purchases, debt service on buildings and projects, costs related to facility maintenance and repairs, such as salaries and benefits of custodial staff, service contracts, maintenance supplies, and utilities. The paragraph above incorrectly implies that other expenses are being cut and the district is requesting an additional $5.33 million from taxpayers to move forward with and complete our current Capital Project. The transfer to Capital for this project is $270,000 (plus $100,000 for our yearly Capital Outlay project).
Taxpayers can expect a 2.5% tax levy increase, if passed, from last year.
Since the tax levy increase exceeds the tax cap limit, the district is required by law to obtain a 60% or higher approval rate from voters in order to pass the proposed budget.
The district office has stated that its primary point of focus with this year’s budget is maintaining the ability to provide quality instruction to students and revitalizing on-campus facilities.
If the budget is denied, the Board of Education may choose to present the proposed budget to voters a second time in June or instead adopt a contingent budget plan.
The terms of Justin Staebell and Matt Lamb are up in June for the Board of Education, and two candidates filed nominating petitions for the two available seats: Kevin Beuler and incumbent Justin Staebell. The available seats are for three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2025.
Polls will be from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Middle-High School Library.
