The Chatham Central School District Board of Education adopted its proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year at its April 14 meeting. The budget totals $37,470,295 and carries a projected tax levy increase of 1.75 percent, which is under the 2.10 percent limit set by New York State’s property tax cap. Spending is up a total of $1,152,686, a 3.17 percent increase from the 2025-26 budget.
This budget cycle, the District had to overcome a $854,922 year-to-year budget gap caused by low state operating aid compounded by an 11 percent increase in health insurance costs, a 25 percent increase in prescription plan premiums, new contracts with faculty and support staff unions, and inflation.
In order to reduce costs and balance the budget, the District reduced administrative staffing by one position and educational staffing by three positions to match declining student enrollment, cut two bus runs to match declining ridership, reduced business office staffing by one position, and used $741,000 in reserves. Staffing reductions were made through attrition (retirements/resignations) and did not require layoffs. The District also applied $1,341,600 in allocated fund balance and $573,953 in unallocated fund balance to further offset year-to-year cost increases and hold the tax levy below the tax cap.
Budget highlights include no loss of programs, a continued rich assortment of opportunities for students with the addition of Applied Geometry, Women’s Studies, and Exploring Educational Pathways electives at Chatham High School, and two bus replacement purchases. The budget also includes a $100,000 capital project to install a ventilation system for the transportation offices in the bus garage.
In addition to the budget, voters will be asked to decide on a separate proposition that would allow the District to expend $3,879,600 from the Capital Reserve Fund to install air conditioning at Mary E. Dardess Elementary School. The money would be used in lieu of bonding for the project that was approved by voters in 2023, and would result in tax savings by avoiding debt-associated costs.
Voters can learn more at a public hearing scheduled for May 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Chatham High School library. Budget information is also available on our Budget News page and the District will mail its annual budget newsletter to residents in early May.
Voting on the proposed School Budget and Board of Education Election takes place Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School gym.