Budget Information

Development of the 2023-24 school year budget is underway. Information pertaining to the budget will be posted here as it becomes available.

Budget Documents

2022-2031 Financial Reserve Plan Document

2023-24 Budget Development Calendar

November 3, 2022	Finance Committee Meeting (Budget Calendar)
November 15, 2022	Board Meeting 6:00 pm (Budget Calendar Adoption)
December 1, 2022	Finance Committee Meeting (Finance Reserves Plan)
December 13, 2022	Board Meeting 6:00 pm (Adopt Fin. Reserve Plan)
February 2, 2023	Finance Committee Meeting (State Aid, ERS/TRS)
February 7, 2023	Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. (Projected State Aid))
February 16, 2023	Finance Committee Meeting (Property tax cap, budget)
February 28, 2023	Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. (1st Part of Budget – Admin & Operations, Prop. tax cap, Phase 1’s)
March 9, 2023	Finance Committee Meeting (Review budget updates)
March 14, 2023	Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. (2nd Part of Budget – Instructional, Library & Cafeteria)
March 23, 2023	Finance Committee Meeting (Review budget updates)
March 28, 2023	Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. (3rd Part of Budget – Transportation, Benefits, & Special Education )
March 30, 2023	Finance Committee Meeting (Review final budget & Recommend)
April 4, 2023	Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. Adoption of 2022-2023 Budget
April 5, 2023	Submission of Property Tax Report Card to NYSED (by the end of the business day following budget adoption) (No less than 24 days prior to budget vote)
April 28, 2023	Copies of Budget and required attachments made available to public upon request (No less than 14 days prior to budget vote)
May 9, 2023	Annual Budget Hearing 6:00 p.m.
May 16, 2023	Annual Budget Vote and Elections 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. MED Gym

Property Tax Cap Information

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 (portion of the school budget funded by property tax) 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.

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 Chatham 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 Columbia County Board of Elections

Current Year's Budget

The 2022-23 school year budget totals $33,618,101 and carried a projected tax levy increase of 2.75 percent, which was under the District’s 3.48 percent limit set by New York State’s property tax cap. Spending is up $567,718, a 1.72 percent increase from the 2021-22 budget.

Learn more about the 2022-23 budget...