2026-27 School Budget Development
Development of the 2026-27 school year budget is currently underway. Information pertaining to the budget will be posted here as it becomes available.
Presentations
- Budget Presentation #2 – February 26, 2026
- Budget Presentation #1 – January 21, 2026
- Catskill CSD Long Range Financial Analysis & PCP – December 3, 2025
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 | 1PM – 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.
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.