• Chatham CSD Reserve Plan - December 9, 2025

Contrary to popular belief, the NYS property tax cap does not cap tax increases at 2%. Instead, schools must use a state formula each year to determine how much they can increase their tax levies by without having to seek a higher percentage of voter approval for the budget. This threshold may be different each year and must be determined by the District and submitted to the state by March 1st.

If the year-to-year increase of the District’s tax levy is at or below the number determined by the cap, a simple majority (50% + 1) of voter approval is needed to pass the budget. If the budget proposal carries a tax levy increase above the cap, a super majority (60%) of voter approval is needed for the budget to pass. More information on the NYS Property Tax Cap is available on the NY State Education Department Website.       

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

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.

Information about candidates running for the Board can be found on our Board of Education Election Page.

The 2025-26 budget totals $36,317,609 and carries a projected tax levy increase of 3.66 percent, which is at the limit set by New York State’s property tax cap. Spending is up a total of $889,058, a 2.51 percent increase from the 2024-25 budget. 

The District had to overcome an approximately $1.4 million year-to-year budget gap caused largely by a significant reduction in school aid from the state, steep increases in health insurance and prescription plan premiums, a rise in special education costs, and inflation.

In order to balance the budget, the District reduced staffing by the equivalent of 12 positions to match declining student enrollment, cut two bus runs to match declining ridership, reduced contracted BOCES support staff services, reduced spending in the area of supplies and field trips, and applied $573,953 in unallocated fund balance. Staffing reductions were made through attrition (retirements/resignations) wherever possible. As it has in recent years, the District also applied $1,341,600 in allocated fund balance to further offset year-to-year cost increases and lower the tax levy to the level set by the tax cap. 

Budget highlights include no loss of programs, a continued rich assortment of opportunities for students, the addition of an Intro to Agribusiness elective at Chatham High School, support for universal pre-k, and two bus replacement purchases. The budget also includes a small capital project to improve the bus garage’s fuel storage system.  Learn more about the 2025-26 School Budget...

2025-2026 Budget Information
2024-2025 Budget Information
2023-2024 Budget Information
2022-2023 Budget Information
2021-2022 Budget Information
2020-2021 Budget Information
2019-2020 Budget Information
2018-2019 Budget Information
2017-2018 Budget Information
2016-2017 Budget Information
2015-2016 Budget Information
2014-2015 Budget Information
2013-2014 Budget Information
2012-2013 Budget Information
2011-2012 Budget Information
2010-2011 Budget Information
2009-2010 Budget Information

Questions or comments about the budget?

Email them to budget@chatham.k12.ny.us