Taxes Up 2.95% in SCS Budget

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie school taxpayers on May 19 will be voting on a $29.75 million budget that will be increasing the tax levy by 2.95 percent.

David J. Baroody, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, outlined a $29,755,185 2026-27 proposed budget Thursday evening that holds no layoffs or cuts in programming, or sports.

The proposed budget is up by $1.48 million or 5.24 percent, mostly from three factors.

The three factors are increases: health insurance costs in both medical and prescription costs, debt service payments for capital projects and bus purchases, and tuition costs for students with special needs.

Employment benefits are up by $328,000 in the proposed budget, debt service is up by $800,000, and the cost of private school and BOCES tuition costs went up by $115,000. Mr. Baroody noted that over the last three years, the number of students who have moved into the district in need of outplaced special education service is up by 40 percent.

On the positive side, foundation aid for SCS is up by $248,000 or 2.88 percent,  Mr. Baroody added. There are hopes that the aid will increase once the state budget is approved.

The district's foundation aid has been increasing because SCS' enrollment has been stable, Superintendent David Blanchard said.

Schoharie school is in a good position for the upcoming years because of solar fields and the Amazon warehouse being built, he added.

Officials said the potential tax levy hike of 2.95 percent is consistent with the consumer price index over the last 12 months and within state tax levy limits.

The budget public hearing will be on May 5 with the public vote on May 19.