The Keystone Central School Board approved its final general fund budget for 2025–26 after a prolonged discussion about spending priorities and whether to raise local taxes.

The board voted 5–3 to adopt the budget. Board members who voted in favor included Miss Smith, Mister Elling, Mister Johnston, Mister Naugh and Miss Dunnehy; Doctor Baldino, Miss Lynch and Mister Scaff voted no.

The vote followed heated comments from multiple board members. Butch Cannon, a board member, said the district faces unavoidable cost pressures and warned that failing to act could leave the district “run by the state,” arguing that prior boards’ decisions not to raise taxes had reduced the district’s capacity to respond now. Cannon said the district would otherwise risk a state takeover and mandated tax increases.

Chris Scaff, a board member, pressed administration for deeper monthly reviews of budget categories and argued the board should work through particular sections each month to identify savings. “We need to hammer down the coffins also,” Scaff said, urging ongoing oversight rather than reliance on state action.

Board member Elizabeth Roehling (identified in discussion as advocating for monthly budget review) repeated a longstanding request that the board and administration examine specific budget categories monthly so trends and problem areas can be identified. “When you evaluate something over an extended period of time, you might see a trend,” Roehling said.

Other speakers warned that many costs are beyond local control. One board member pointed to rising insurance premiums, contractually fixed labor costs and the district’s required payments to cyber charter schools as major drivers of rising expenditures. Several members described cyber charter costs as a statewide policy issue that, if addressed in Harrisburg, could materially reduce local budget pressure.

The board discussed tradeoffs at length: some members urged aggressive cuts to discretionary items — citing a $1,795 logo rug and a $20,000 LED sign as examples of spending to scrutinize — while others warned that deep cuts would force elimination of student programs and electives. “Would you like to cut CTC? Would you like to cut the arts?” a board member asked, saying large reductions would directly affect students.

Board members also discussed the limits of one-off savings versus structural reforms, and several noted they had been in touch with state representatives about cyber charter legislation. “I have spoken to our representatives about it in meetings at their offices,” Chris Scaff said.

After the debate, the board approved the budget by roll call. The motion passed with five yes votes and three no votes.