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2025-2026

Proposed Budget

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Blueprint for Excellence

  • Investment in Instructional Development
  • Enhanced Graduation Pathways
  • Maintains Current Levels of Programming

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Fiscal Responsibility

  • Reduction of Staff
    • Clerical, Instructional and Administrative

  • Use of Debt Service Fund to Stabilize Expenditures

  • Maximizing Use of Existing Resources

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Proposed Budget

2024-2025 Adopted Budget: $23,805,174

2025-2026 Proposed Budget: $23,484,786

Percent Difference: -1.35%

Dollar Difference: -$320,388

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State Aid Revenue Projections

Foundation Aid: $10,703,12→ 0.24% increase

Building Aid: $1,023,194→ 75.12% decrease

Net Change of NYS Revenue: 7.13% decrease

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Tax Levy Information

2024-2025

2025-2026

CM School Levy

$6,529,201

$6,655,969

Levy Increase/Tax Rate

1.94% / $17.95 per $1000

1.94% / $18.08 per $1000

Impact of $13 for a property assessed at $100,000 before STAR

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Proposed Revenues

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Three-Component Breakdown

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Three-Part Budget & Comparison

Component

2024-2025

2025-2026

Difference

% Change

Administrative

$2,258,964

$2,221,546

($37,418)

-1.66

Instructional

$16,646,836

$16,711,831

$64,995

0.39

Capital

$4,899,374

$4,551,409

($347,965)

-7.1

Total Budget

$23,805,174

$23,484,786

($320,388)

-1.35

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Administrative

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Instructional

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Capital

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Proposition 1: Proposed Budget of

$23,484,786

Shall the Board of Education be authorized and directed to expend the sum of $23,484,786

for General Fund appropriation.

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Proposition 2:

Bus Purchases of $624,000

Shall the Board of Education of the Cato-Meridian Central School District be authorized to purchase and finance of two large School Buses, one small School Bus, and one (1) Student Transport Vehicle, including necessary furnishings, fixtures and equipment and all other costs incidental thereto, and expend a total sum not to exceed $624,000, which is estimated to be the total maximum cost thereof, and said amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law; and, in anticipation of such tax, obligations of said School District, in the principal amount not to exceed $624,000, be issued.

District will purchase 2 large School Buses, 1 small School Bus, and 1 Student Transport Vehicle

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Board of Education Candidates

Vote for three:

Kathleen Bratt

Amanda Vallee

Beth Nasholts

Kristin Cox

Timothy Hulbert

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Please Vote!

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

�8AM-8PM at Cato-Meridian Elementary School Cafeteria

Absentee ballots can be obtained from the District Clerk

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Questions?

Michael Hoose �Interim Superintendent of Schools�mhoose@catomeridian.org

Elizabeth Kupiec�Assistant Superintendent�ekupiec@catomeridian.org

District Office: �315-626-3439, ext. 5001

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Budget Impacts

  • Lack of NYS Budget
  • Minimal Foundation Aid Increases
  • Declining Enrollment
  • Uncertain Federal Aid
  • 10% Health Insurance Increase
  • Contractual Obligations
  • Anticipated Inflation
  • Tariff Impacts
  • Utility Increases (Electricity 25%)
  • Inflationary Pressures