Cornwall Central School District officials presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget needs assessment on Feb. 10 that requests new staff, security upgrades and program supports amid rising retirement contribution costs and an uncertain state and federal funding picture.

Business official John Fink told the Board of Education the needs assessment totals about $1.4 million and highlighted requests including an elementary guidance split, additional early‑intervention staff, an ELL teacher at the high school, a committee‑on‑special‑education (CSE) chairperson, a high‑school custodian for pool/community lunch coverage and four safety monitors to staff new security vestibules. "The total of our needs assessment here is $1,400,000," Fink said.

Why it matters: The district must balance rising mandated costs — including larger employer retirement contributions — with a property‑tax cap that limits levy growth. Fink said preliminary property‑tax cap calculations show a potential 3.08% levy increase (about $1.6 million) but noted that the tax‑levy cap and final state aid numbers are subject to change when the state finalizes aid runs.

Key requests and rationale: The administration proposed staffing additions to address increased workload and state mandates: a guidance department chair at the middle school to coordinate transitions; additional early‑intervention teachers to align supports across elementary buildings; a dedicated ELL teacher at the high school to address complex newcomer and credit needs; and a CSE chairperson to manage a rise in CSE meetings. Fink said the district has added about 24.1 FTE over the past four years, with staffing representing the largest share of recent budget increases.

Safety and capital: The administration proposed a $300,000 transfer to capital to begin installing a districtwide lockdown and emergency notification system (panic buttons, VoIP lockdown activation, selective strobes and administrative mobile access). "You'd be able to lock down from any phone," Fink said, noting the project would be aidable and that building aid would be realized in a subsequent year if the work is completed in 2025–26.

Mandates and cost drivers: Fink reviewed unfunded or underfunded mandates affecting the budget, including rising employer contributions for the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) and Employees' Retirement System (ERS). He reported TRS employer rates up roughly 10% this year and ERS increases around 16.5% in recent years. He called health‑insurance increases "modest" at about 2.5% compared with prior larger jumps.

Revenue assumptions and risks: The district expects a roughly $1.02 million increase in state aid based on the governor’s run, with roughly $1 million of that in Foundation Aid; final aid will be set in April (sometimes May). Fink reminded the board that 1% of the tax levy equals roughly $525,000 in local revenue and that different transfer‑to‑capital choices affect the maximum allowable levy. He also flagged federal funding uncertainty and noted that congressional appropriations ultimately drive federal program dollars even if administrative agencies change.

Board questions and follow‑up: Board members asked for more detail on several requests: the scope of the proposed guidance chair role; why ELL staffing is needed at the high school (complexity of newcomer cases and credit recovery); how UPK expansion (98 seats) affects PPS/CSE workload; and whether the proposed $300,000 capital transfer would be sufficient to complete the system. Fink said quotes supported the $300,000 figure and that aid would follow in subsequent years.

Votes and next steps: At the working session the board adopted the 2025–26 budget calendar (item 4) after a motion; the motion passed with two abstentions, the presentation outlined future budget dates (budget adoption Apr. 24 and a budget vote May 20), and the administration will return with further detail on specific line items and supporting documentation at upcoming budget workshops.