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Cornwall budget preview: administrators seek staffing, safety system and special‑education support as property‑tax cap looms
Summary
District business official John Fink outlined a needs assessment that includes new counselors, an early‑intervention teacher, ELL staff, safety monitors, a $300,000 transfer to capital for a districtwide lockdown/notification system and estimated revenue and mandate pressures ahead of the May budget vote.
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…
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