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Horseheads board weighs cuts, tax-cap challenge and reserves to close $2.47M budget gap
Summary
Superintendent presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget with a $2.471 million gap and a proposed 7.12% levy increase; the board discussed options including program reductions, using reserves/debt-service, or exceeding the tax cap and asked administration for scenarios.
The Horseheads Central School District superintendent presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget Thursday showing a $2,471,043 shortfall and a proposed tax-levy increase of 7.12 percent, and asked the board for direction on whether to cut programs or pursue a tax-cap challenge.
The budget presentation delivered to the Board of Education broke down revenues and tools already assumed — allowable levy growth, ERS reserves, interfund transfers and a $1 million use of fund balance — and still showed the 2.471-million-dollar gap, the superintendent said.
Why it matters: the board must set a tax levy and certify what to present to voters; choices this spring will determine whether programming and staffing are cut, reserves are used, or the district asks voters for a levy above the legal tax-cap threshold that requires a 60 percent approval.
The superintendent…
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