Greenfield-Central School Board finance staff on Monday reviewed the district's 2026 budget strategy and warned members that recent state law changes will alter how property-tax rates are calculated and limit local control over tax rates for the next several years. The presentation laid out steps the district plans to take to protect classroom funding and teacher pay while adjusting operating and debt plans.

The district's chief financial officer, Mr. Dade, told the board the budgeting process begins with the June 30 cash balance and rolls out over an 18-month cycle. He said revenue still exceeds expenditures, but the gap is narrowing and the district will advertise budgets higher than expected to preserve flexibility. "The DLGF always lets you lower your budget from the advertised amount, but will not allow increases after advertisement," Mr. Dade said.

Why it matters: Board members were told the mechanics of a recent property-tax change mean the district will no longer control the tax-rate math for up to five years. That could reduce revenue available for operations unless the district adjusts spending, transfers and debt plans.

Board discussion and strategy: The finance report outlined three core approaches: maximize revenue collection, contain costs and direct the maximum possible share of dollars to classrooms. The district plans to continue transfers from operations to education where needed, invest in deferred maintenance strategically and use bond/lease-rental authority approved last year for capital projects. "We are positioning ourselves with the cash balance we have on hand to continue to pay our teachers well," Mr. Dade said, noting the district achieved the highest average teacher pay in the county this year.

Staff also said the district will commission more detailed parcel-level forecasting from a consultant, Policy Analytics, to model the effect of credits and exemptions that now factor into tax calculations. The consultant work would be an additional expense but is intended to produce projections that help set levy and spending decisions.

Limits and next steps: No budget adoption action was required at the meeting; staff said board members will see budget forms in August and the public-hearing schedule in subsequent meetings. Mr. Dade cautioned that some tax changes will phase in over five years and "we're going to have to make sure we have the tools in place to keep us viable financially." The board will revisit debt service and lease-rental planning as part of the fall budget cycle.

Context and background: The discussion referred to changes that state legislators enacted earlier this year affecting parcel-level credits (for example, age or military credits) and other mechanics that alter tax-rate outcomes. Staff did not recommend a specific levy change at this meeting; they emphasized forecasting and preserving flexibility.

Board action: No formal vote was required. Staff will return with detailed forecasts and recommended advertising levels for the 2026 budget in August and subsequent months.