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Board weighs revenue options; approves property/enrollment RFP and asks staff to study utility tax and Cornell contribution ideas
Summary
Trustees reviewed four revenue options — property sale/lease, a utility tax, an increased contribution from Cornell, and consolidation/regionalization — and directed staff to continue fact-finding, including an RFP on enrollment and property valuation.
The board discussed four frameworks presented by a temporary Revenue Generation Advisory Council and gave general direction to staff to pursue additional fact-finding rather than immediate policy changes.
Council ideas reviewed included: (1) sale or lease of district-owned properties; (2) adoption of a local utility/communications tax; (3) requesting increased voluntary contributions from Cornell University; and (4) consolidation/redistricting or regionalization to reduce facility and program costs.
Trustees and staff described an RFP (request for proposals) to study enrollment trends and property valuations that would inform any decision about selling or leasing facilities. Several board members stressed that selling property would require a voter referendum under New York law, while leasing could be done by the board; the superintendent and board counsel clarified that sales normally require a public vote.
On a utility tax, presenters noted many New York school districts use some form of communications/utility tax, but board-members and community advisors called it regressive and politically unpopular. Some trustees asked staff to provide a current, staff-driven estimate of potential revenue and an implementation timeline if the board wished to reconsider it; others opposed pursuing the idea further.
On Cornell, trustees discussed both historical voluntary payments from Cornell to the district and the practical limits of a purely voluntary contribution. Several board members said they favor pursuing a negotiated, more formal arrangement that could link payments to specific, mutually beneficial goals rather than relying on an unpredictable voluntary grant; the superintendent cautioned that any binding agreement would require careful negotiation and could raise legal and fiscal planning issues. The board asked staff to open a channel for dialogue with Cornell and to explore possible collaborative approaches, and some trustees offered to participate in those discussions.
On consolidation and regionalization, the board differentiated consolidation (closing schools and redistricting) from broader regionalization or shared services. Trustees did not endorse closing schools but supported feasibility and enrollment studies to understand potential efficiencies and tradeoffs.
Board members generally supported further fact-finding. The administration reported the RFP on facility valuation/enrollment is nearly ready to go out. Trustees asked for staff reports on potential revenues, legal steps, timelines, and community engagement implications before any policy action.
