2026-27 Budget Proposal
Budget information for Ogdensburg City School District
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
2026-27 Budget Essentials
2026-27 Proposed Budget
$58,228,386
Spending Increase
$2,135,407
3.81% increase
Property Tax Levy Increase
$433,404
3.99% increase
Taxpayer impact on a $100,000 home
Estimated annual increase
$58.11
Estimated monthly increase
$4.84
Estimated true value tax rate
$21.64
Final tax rates may vary by municipality and assessed value.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Property Tax Cap
The Property Tax Cap is not a flat 2%.
Ogdensburg's allowable levy growth is approximately 11.86% for 2026-27.
The district is recommending a 3.99% property tax levy increase.
The proposed levy is $854,519 below the allowable levy limit.
Proposed levy: $11,295,663
Allowable levy limit: $12,150,182
The proposal remains well within the levy cap while limiting the local tax impact.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Projected Revenues - Projected Expenses
2026-27 Projected Revenues
Amount
Property Tax
$11,295,663
State Aid
$37,325,759
PILOT
$150,000
Fund Balance
$3,966,964
Reserves
$1,175,000
Other
$4,315,000
Total Revenues
$58,228,386
2026-27 Projected Expenses
Amount
General Support
$7,356,222
Instruction
$27,121,283
Pupil Transportation
$1,995,250
Employee Benefits
$15,701,000
Debt Service
$5,864,631
Interfund Transfers
$190,000
Total Expenses
$58,228,386
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
NYS Foundation Aid
2025-26 Foundation Aid
$22,030,604
Prior-year aid amount
2026-27 Foundation Aid
$22,471,216
Projected aid amount
Increase
+$440,612
2% increase
Foundation Aid is increasing by 2%, or $440,612.
Why it matters
Foundation Aid is the basic state-aid formula and a major revenue source for the district.
The 2% increase does not fully offset higher transportation, utility, service, and building-operation costs.
Note: Foundation Aid amounts are shown separately from total State Aid to highlight the district’s basic state-aid formula funding.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Current Cost Pressures
Cost Area
12-Month Increase
Overall consumer prices
+3.8%
Electricity
+6.1%
Gasoline
+28.4%
Services
+3.3%
These same cost categories affect school district operations.
Electricity affects heating, lighting, technology, and building operations.
Gasoline affects student transportation and daily district operations.
Services affect maintenance, repairs, contracted work, and support functions.
Budget context
Even with these cost pressures, the district is proposing a 3.99% levy increase while remaining well below the allowable tax levy cap.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, April 2026.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Major Cost Drivers
Other operating increases
$912,676
Capital project debt service
$1,222,731
Total spending increase
$2,135,407
3.81%
How the increase is split
Capital project debt service: +$1,222,731
Connected to the district's capital project work. The district receives state aid to help offset the cost; however, accounting requirements require debt service to be shown as its own budget line.
Other operating increases: +$912,676
Includes general support, instruction, pupil transportation, employee benefits, and interfund transfers. These increases reflect rising utility, fuel, contracted service, maintenance, insurance, supply, and daily operating costs needed to operate buildings, transport students, and support programs.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Health Insurance Costs
Active Employees
$9.0M
Budgeted medical coverage
Retirees
$1.7M
Budgeted retiree coverage
Buyouts & Other Fees
$0.3M
Remaining medical-related costs
Total 2026-27 Medical Insurance Budget: $11.0M
Budget context
Medical insurance is budgeted at approximately $11.0 million for 2026-27. This includes active employee coverage, retiree coverage, and related buyouts and fees.
Health insurance remains one of the district's largest recurring benefit costs and must be planned for annually.
Illustrative active-employee renewal pressure
+7.1%
estimated increase
+$524K
active coverage
Family plan estimate: $3,315/month, or nearly $39,800/year
Key takeaway: The district’s medical insurance budget extends beyond active employee premiums; retiree coverage, buyouts, and related fees are also part of the total obligation.
Note: Amounts are rounded. Family-plan estimate is the gross illustrative renewal cost before employee contributions or cost sharing.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
What the Budget Supports
Student Programs
Classroom instruction, student services, extracurricular opportunities, athletics, and targeted academic support.
Facilities
Building operations, utilities, maintenance, and capital project-related needs.
Transportation
Daily student transportation and safe, reliable fleet operations.
Budget Focus
Students, facilities, and fiscal responsibility
The proposed budget is built to maintain essential programs while managing rising costs and local tax impact.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Three-Part Budget
Category
Amount
Share
Program
$40,941,359
70.32%
Administrative
$6,262,024
10.75%
Capital
$11,025,003
18.93%
Total
$58,228,386
100.00%
Program 70.32%
Administrative 10.75%
Capital 18.93%
More than 70% of the proposed budget is in the program category, which includes student instruction and direct student services.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Capital Project Debt Service
Debt service increase: +$1,222,731
This increase is connected to the district's capital project work.
The district is receiving state aid to help offset the cost.
Due to accounting requirements, debt service must be shown as its own budget line.
This line item is not the same as a new general operating program.
Plain language: the cost appears in the budget as debt service, while state aid helps reduce the local impact.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Capital Outlay Project
Project Amount
$100,000
Expected Reimbursement
About 98%
Local Impact
Minimal
Planned work
Flooring improvements at Ogdensburg Free Academy.
Capital outlay projects allow up to $100,000 in annual facility upgrades.
The reimbursement structure allows the district to address facilities while limiting local cost.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Student Transportation Vehicles Proposition
Vehicles
13 gas-powered buses
Maximum Cost
$2,521,504
Expected State Aid
About 85%
Why this is proposed
Many current buses have exceeded warranty periods.
State aid reimbursement is expected to significantly reduce the local financial impact.
The proposition is separate from the proposed operating budget.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Budget Propositions
Proposition 1 - 2026-27 Budget
Adopts the proposed $58,228,386 spending plan for the 2026-27 school year.
Proposition 2 - Transportation
Authorizes the purchase of 13 student transportation vehicles at a maximum cost of $2,521,504.
Proposition 3 - Board of Education Election
Elects two Board of Education members to five-year terms from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
Note: The transportation proposition is listed separately from the total budgeted amount.
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Contingency Budget
Contingent Budget
$57,579,886
Reduction Required
-$648,500
Tax Levy Increase
$0 under contingent rules
If the proposed budget is defeated twice, the district must adopt a contingent budget.
The district would need to eliminate $648,500 from the proposed budget.
Additional positions/programs that would be eliminated in a contingency budget:
• Elementary Teacher (1)
• Universal Pre-Kindergarten Teacher (will limit program enrollment to 54 students)
• Secondary English Teacher
• Closure of the Edgar A. Newell II Golden Dome
• All JV Sports Programs
• Summer Marching Band Program
• Driver Education Program
• After School Transportation to the Ogdensburg Boys & Girls Club
• School Library Media Specialist (Librarian)
Additional Reduction: 6 Positions | 12 Programs
OGDENSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2026-27 BUDGET
Budget Vote - June 16, 2026
William L. Dwyer Gymnasium
Noon - 9:00 p.m.
Ogdensburg Free Academy
Visit www.ogdensburgk12.org for more information about the proposed budget.