District overview
Fairport Central School District
How Fairport Central School District is funded, governed and what it is building.
Where does the money come from, and what limits it?
Fairport's schools are paid for mainly by property taxes from Perinton and Fairport residents, plus state aid. New York caps how fast a school district's tax levy can grow (generally 2% or inflation, plus allowed exclusions such as capital costs). Voters approve the budget each May. For 2026-27 the board adopted a $172.3 million budget with a 3.30% higher levy and 5.34% more state aid.
Property taxes are the biggest piece
In 2025-26 each budget dollar came from 55 cents property tax and PILOTs, 33 cents state aid, 6 cents savings and reserves, 4 cents county sales tax and about 1 cent other revenue (district Feb 10, 2026 presentation).
State Foundation Aid barely moves
Foundation Aid grows only about $327,000 (1%) in 2026-27 to $33.0 million, while health and dental insurance rise more than $2.5 million. That gap, about $3.7 million at its peak, drove the 2026-27 position reductions.
Building projects are planned around old debt ending
The district times big construction votes for when old debt ends and state building aid rises so a project adds 0% to tax rates. The $73.5 million K-8 project passed in September 2025 on that basis.
Savings accounts are set by voters
Voters approve reserves such as a new Capital Building Reserve of up to $25 million (May 2026). Assigned fund balance and reserves used to balance the 2026-27 budget were about $11 million, or about 6.2% of the budget.
The district reports that its audited general fund balance grew to $66.9 million in FY2025, most of it restricted to specific uses. A net position deficit of $89.6 million mostly reflects long-term obligations such as retiree benefits, not an operating shortfall.
Where the district stands
Up 4.18% from $165,369,483.
Up 3.30% from $90,355,772.
Up 5.34%; Foundation Aid is $33.0 million, up 1%. Based on the Governor's proposal at the time.
Kindergarten through grade 12; down from 5,175 in 2023-24.
Context: $172,287,859 divided by projected enrollment of 5,153. It includes benefits, transportation, debt and building costs, and students in non-public schools the district also serves.
Five are cuts; the rest are retirements and departures not refilled.
Includes $48.5 million restricted, $9.1 million assigned and $6.6 million unassigned.
1,931 yes to 1,094 no.
Major projects
Fairport for the Future 2025 K-8 capital project
Design phase; construction planned from March 2027Updates the four elementary schools and two middle schools. Voters approved a $73.5 million project 1,989 to 394 in September 2025. Design is under way with state approval expected near December 2026.
- Voters approve the $73.5 million project
- Board approves contracts with Campus Construction Management Group and LaBella Associates
- LaBella update: schematic design phase
- LaBella update: design development under way; cost estimate shown at $73.5 million
Funding
Voter-approved capital project paid with capital reserves, New York State building aid and debt that is ending; district says 0% added tax impact.
Ninth and tenth graders join Fairport High School; new start times
Under way in 2026-27Minerva DeLand is consolidated into Fairport High School so grades 9 to 12 share one building, and bus schedules move to two tiers: elementary 7:45 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.; grades 6 to 12 8:40 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.
- Board hears 2026-27 start and end times and bus plan
- Parent night for 8th and 9th grade families (district news date)
- Board notes ninth and tenth graders adjusting; STEAM wing ribbon cutting
Funding
Operating budget plus the 2023 voter-approved high school addition (a $36 million authorization with site work) that opened a STEAM and technology wing.
Don Santini Athletic Complex and field lighting
Under constructionThe 2023 project includes a new track and field (a separate $9.475 million authorization). Lighting on the multipurpose field and track is being added without new taxes, and the board named the complex for Don Santini on June 16, 2026.
- Board approves environmental review resolution for the added lighting work
- Community forum on lighting and sound
- Board names the Don Santini Athletic Complex
- Board approves sod, not seed, for the track infield so it can be used by fall 2027
Funding
2023 capital project funds, including unallocated money after favorable bids and construction contingency.
Draft 15-year facilities plan (not approved)
Draft; no vote scheduled before fall 2029Administrators are building a building-condition priority list and a draft long-range plan. One option is a roughly $75 million high school pool and nearby space, which would need about $26 million in reserves; the district holds about $6 million today.
- Draft plan first presented at workshop
- Board discusses draft vote dates and project sizes
Funding
Not funded. Would rely on the new Capital Building Reserve, state aid and old debt ending.
Recent news
Built from the district website's budget, capital project and policy pages, board workshop and business meeting recordings (YouTube auto-captions), district news and the FY2025 audit. Items marked verified cite a collected district document; per-student figures are calculations.
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