VOORHEESVILLE — Despite the governor’s proposal for a limited increase in aid from New York State, as well as a continued tax cap, the Voorheesville School District will likely not see cuts to programs in its upcoming budget. Instead, a preliminary budget draft for $24 million seeks increases in expenses, including for staff and a capital project.

The Monday night board of education meeting will include a discussion of the budget beforehand.

The state comptroller released data this week stating that property tax levy growth for school districts and municipalities will be capped at 1.26 percent. The tax cap was first applied in 2012 in New York State, and limits tax levy increases to 2-percent or the Consumer Price Index calculation of the cost of living, whichever is less, with certain exceptions.

A provision allows districts to override the tax cap with a 60-percent voter approval of their budget. Calculations for Voorheesville show, to stay under the cap, the district can increase its levy no more than 2.38-percent, said Superintendent Brian Hunt.

The preliminary budget draft calculates a 2-percent tax-levy increase, which provides a $64,000 buffer, although this is subject to change as the school budget is prepared.

If the governor’s proposal is adopted by the legislature, which in recent years has come up with its own one-house budget response, state aid to the district will increase by about 0.86 percent, from $6,182,o57 in 2016-17 to $6,235,292 for 2017-18.

“The aid increase was a little bit disappointing,” said Hunt.

The one area in the governor’s proposal that did see a decrease in aid was special services — from $154,685 to $144,884 for Voorheesville. Hunt said he wasn’t concerned.

“Really, the foundation aid is most important,” he said.

Foundation aid in the governor’s plan would increase from $3,408,591 to $3,458,118.

Hunt said the district is looking to keep the funding for most programs or even increase funding to some.

In the latest budget draft for the 2017-18 school year, salaries are expected to increase for all current positions, according to contracts in place. Health-insurance costs are expected to increase for all positions as well.

The district is also looking to increase school staff in order to compensate for overcrowding, including an incoming kindergarten class larger than the outgoing fifth-grade class. The district is also expected to include a $100,000 capital project in the budget.

Expected revenues are $24,132,000, and expected expenditures are $24,226,000 — outweighing revenues by $94,000, or a budget gap of 0.4-percent. About a quarter of the revenue comes from state aid and most of the rest comes from the tax levy.

According to the preliminary draft, the school district expects that the state legislature will increase state aid compared to the aid proposed by the governor’s office, possibly closing the budget gap or even increasing funds to be used for school programs.

The first budget meeting of the year will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, and will go over the preliminary budget. A special budget meeting will be held on April 3, following adoption of the state budget on April 1, and it is expected that the school board will adopt a final budget at its April 3 meeting. Voters will have their say on May 16.