Budget Information

On May 19, Catskill Central School District voters approved the 2026-27 school budget 444 yes – 125 no.

2026-27 School Budget

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Catskill Central School District asked residents to decide on a $51,742,991 budget proposal for the 2026-27 school year. The budget carries a 2.19 percent tax levy increase, which is under the allowable 2.29 percent tax levy increase 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. 

“Our budget is a commitment to long-term stability. By maintaining our essential staffing and growing our programs while staying below the tax cap, we are ensuring a sustainable future for our students and community as a whole,” said Superintendent of Schools Junait Shah. “With consistent leadership and a clear vision, it is our goal to leverage every opportunity we have to remain fiscally disciplined while providing the resources our students need to thrive.”

Budget development highlights include no cuts to student programs and no layoffs, despite school officials having to close an approximately $3 million year-to-year budget gap caused by steep cost increases in health insurance, prescription plan premiums, and transportation, compounded by the expiration of one-time federal funding provided by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Stronger Connections grants. 

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 staffing by one aide position based on enrollment, addressing duplicative or underperforming service contracts, and reducing BOCES spending by $500,000. The staffing reduction was achieved through attrition (resignations/retirements). The District also updated its bidding cycle to ensure the lowest prices when hiring contractors, locked in a competitive rate for electricity, and began aggressively pursuing new grants.

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 adding 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’s 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 this project.

 More information was provided in our budget newsletter that we mailed to residents in May.

Documents

Presentations

2026-2027 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR

11/5/25 BOE Meeting Budget Calendar presented for Board of Education approval.
11/5/25 – 1/23/26 Superintendent Review Superintendent of Schools reviews all detailed budget requests with all supervisors. Development of preliminary budget.
12/3/25 BOE Meeting Long Range Plan Presentation.
1/21/26 BOE Budget Workshop Budget Outlook, Budget Goals, Staffing Report, Adoption of Fund Balance & Reserves Plan
2/4/26 BOE Meeting Budget Process & Drivers, Tax Levy Limit, State Aid Update, Fund Balance & Reserves Projection, Estimated Budget & Gap Analysis
2/25/26 BOE Budget Workshop Discussion on budget items.
3/1/26 Property Tax Cap Submit 2026-2027 calculation for tax levy limit to NYS Office of State Comptroller
3/4/26 BOE Meeting Review of 2026-2027 Budget: Estimated Budget & Gap Analysis, Board Decision Points, Gap Analysis Updates, Open Items & Important Dates
3/18/26 Budget Workshop Discussion on budget items.
4/2 – 4/6/26 Legal Notice Advertise 1st Legal Notice (45 days prior to the vote).
4/2/26 BOE Regular Meeting Finalize Decisions on Budget Priorities, Budget Review Discussion, Finalize Additional Propositions.
4/20/26 Proposition/Petition Deadline Last day for submitting petitions for propositions to be placed on the ballot and for filing petitions for School Board membership
4/21/26 Regular Board Meeting Expected adoption of budget and property tax report card by Board of Education
4/23/26 Budget Approval Deadline Deadline for Board approval of proposed budget and Property Tax Report Card
4/28/26 Property Tax Report Card Final date for submission of Property Tax Report Card to SED
5/1/26 Budget Statement Available Budget Statement and required attachments available at each building
5/6/26 BOE Meeting Budget Hearing
5/19/26 ANNUAL BUDGET VOTE & ELECTION 1–9PM CHS GYM

Property Tax Cap Information

Contrary to popular belief, the NYS Property Tax Cap does not cap tax increases at 2 percent. Instead, public schools must use a state formula each year to determine the amount they can increase their tax levies by without having to seek a higher percentage of voter approval for the budget. This threshold is usually different each year and may be above or below 2%. The district must determine its tax cap number and submit it to the state by March 1st of each year.

For 2026-27, the District’s allowable tax levy increase is 2.61%.

If the year-to-year increase of the District’s tax levy is at or below the number determined by the formula (the “cap”), a simple majority (50% + 1) of voter approval is needed to pass the budget. If the District puts before voters a budget that carries a tax levy increase above the number determined by the formula, a super majority (60%) of voter approval is needed for the budget to pass.

Capital Outlay Project – CES Gym Improvements

Included in the 2026-27 budget is a capital outlay project to refinish the Catskill Elementary School gymnasium floor and replace the gym’s deteriorating wall mats. Both the floor and mats are original to the building’s construction.This capital outlay project would not exceed $100,000. Completing this upkeep as a capital project provides significant savings to local taxpayers because Catskill CSD is eligible for approximately 66 percent state aid on capital projects, meaning the District would get 66 cents back on every dollar it spends on this project. This project does not increase the 2026-27 budget because money for capital outlay projects like this one was built into the previous year’s school budget.

What Happens if Voters Do Not Approve the Budget?

If voters do not approve the budget proposal on May 19, the Board of Education has the following options: put the same budget or a revised budget up for vote on June 16, 2026, or adopt a contingency budget. If the budget proposition is again defeated on June 16, the Board must adopt a contingency budget.

A contingency budget holds the tax levy increase at 0%, regardless of inflation, contractual obligations, and other cost increases incurred by the District. However, all state mandated programs, including those not funded by state aid, would need to be retained. A contingency budget also prevents spending on new equipment, except when concerning safety, and limits public use of District facilities. These regulations mean that the Board would need to cut an additional $464,353 from the current budget proposal. Cuts could potentially include program reductions in instructional and non-instructional areas, reductions in extracurricular programs and interscholastic sports, the elimination of all equipment purchases that are unrelated to safety, and reductions in BOCES services.

What is a Tax Levy?

The tax levy is the dollar amount that is raised by annual property tax to fund the budget. It provides a portion of the total funding for the budget; the other major source of funding comes from state aid.

What is Fund Balance?

Fund balance is a reserve similar to a savings account; when District expenses are less than expected, or revenues are higher than projected, money remaining at the end of the year is held in the fund balance. The District utilizes fund balance each year as revenue in the budget to minimize spending cuts and hold down tax increases.

Voter Qualifications

To be eligible to vote you must be:
• A citizen of the United States 18 years of age or older
• A resident of the Catskill Central School District for a period of 30 days or more directly preceding the date of the vote
• Registered to vote with either the School District or the Greene County Board of Elections

Voter Registration

You must be registered with either the County Board of Elections or the Catskill Central School District to vote on the School Budget and Board of Education Election. The voters of the District have approved a system of walk-in voter registration, available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on days when the District Offices at the District Clerk’s Office, 343 West Main Street, Catskill, NY.

Early Voting By Mail and Absentee Ballots

Applications for early voting by mail or absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the Board Clerk, 343 West Main Street, Catskill, New York. Applications for early voting/absentee ballots must be received by the Board Clerk at least seven days prior to the election and vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot will be picked up personally by the voter at the Office of the Board Clerk. Early Voting/Absentee ballots must be received by the Board Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

2026 Board of Education Election

Information about the 2026 Board of Education election can be found on our 2026 Board Election page…

Current Year’s Budget