The Catskill Central School District Board of Education adopted the proposed budget for the 2026-2027 school year at its April 21 meeting. The school budget totals $51,742,991 and carries a 2.19 percent tax levy increase, which is under the 2.29 percent limit set by the NYS property tax cap. Spending is up a total of $2,123,389, a 4.28 percent increase from the 2025-26 budget.
Budget highlights include no cuts to student programs and no layoffs. School officials sought efficiency measures and applied $2,992,839 in fund balance and $2,117,000 in reserves to offset year-to-year cost hikes and hold the tax levy increase below the cap. Efficiency measures include reducing spending on BOCES programs by $500,000 and reducing staffing by one aide position. This staffing reduction was based on a decline in student enrollment and achieved through attrition (resignations/retirements).
The budget supports the addition of summer school programming at the high school, expanding the elementary summer school program from grades k-3 to grades k-6, funding to support the Kids Club after-school program, expanding BOCES communication services, and the addition of one administrative position (cut in 2025) to fully restore the principal/assistant principal structures at the high school and middle school. The budget also includes a $100,000 capital outlay project to refinish the elementary school gymnasium floor and replace its deteriorating wall mats. Because Catskill CSD is eligible for approximately 66 percent state aid on capital projects the District would get 66 cents back for every dollar it spends on the project.
You can learn more at a public hearing on the budget scheduled for May 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Catskill High School library.
Additional information is available on our Budget Information page, with more to be added in the next few weeks. More information will also be provided in our budget newsletter that we will mail to residents in May.
The annual School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election is May 19, 2026 from 1:00–9:00 p.m. in the Catskill High School gymnasium.