After weeks of meetings — and number juggling — the Fredonia school budget is official and right at the tax cap. During a meeting last month, the district proposed a tax increase of 2.44% — the maximum allowable tax levy increase without requiring supermajority approval.

“I appreciate all the work around this (Board of Education) table over the last five years to keep our programs strong and to keep the quality of what we’re doing in our building at a high level,” said Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox during the meeting.

His comments also are a testament to the community. District residents, with the exception of the $50 million capital project from 2024 and last year’s first budget vote, have been quite generous in their acceptance of continued tax increases in a municipality where the village tax rose 54% last year.

While defending staffing levels, which is common in the public sector, the district continues to prove it can probably do more with less. For instance, the district’s first budget proposal increased spending by 8.75%. That was whittled down by $2 million in recent weeks due to a realization that more hikes will likely be frowned upon by voters.

In making reductions, we applaud the district for doing it through attrition. In this plan, two of the retiring elementary teachers will not be replaced. A third elementary opening will be reclassified as an integrated classroom Special Education teaching position at the Wheelock campus, which will result in additional revenue for the district through reimbursement in future years.

For now, the final decision rests with voters later this month. They, like the district, have been battered by inflation. Just how agreeable will they be?