Keystone Central previews 2026–27 budget, presents tax scenarios and staffing study plans

Joni McIntyre, Keystone Central School District’s business manager, presented a preliminary view of the district’s 2026–27 budget and several options for revenue increases the board could consider.

McIntyre said the preliminary no-tax-increase scenario assumes current programs and that the district’s July 1, 2025 ending general-fund balance is $14,276,000, consistent with the auditors’ presentation. She described several cost pressures heading into next year: collective-bargaining wage and benefit steps (a typical 3% pattern, she said), a projected medical-insurance increase near 10%, and rising charter and cyber-charter tuition. McIntyre estimated the district could receive roughly $774,000 from the state under preliminary state numbers for the coming year.

The presentation included four illustrative tax options and their approximate yield and taxpayer impact for a median-assessed value (Clinton County median cited at $115,000): a 0.88% millage increase (about $250,000 yield, roughly a $15 impact), a 1.75% increase (about $500,000, roughly $30 effect), a 2.63% increase (about $740,000, about $44), and the Act 1 index maximum of 3.5% (about $990,000, about $59). McIntyre noted these calculations are preliminary and depend on final state numbers and the board’s policy choices.

Board members pressed for near-term cost-control actions. One member pointed to recurring small purchases on vendor platforms and questioned whether discretionary building-level budgets could be cut further; another urged accelerating a staffing study and using attrition to reduce positions where appropriate. McIntyre said the staffing study and finance-committee deep dive are scheduled and will examine department and building budgets, transportation, maintenance, technology, and curriculum spending.

McIntyre also highlighted that charter tuition calculations use budgeted numbers; higher district budgets drive higher per-pupil tuition paid to charter schools. She estimated cyber and charter tuition impacts—including Sugar Valley Charter School—would be significant drivers for next year’s budget and noted a projected $1,000,000 increase in related tuition totals (about 12.5% in the modeling) that the district must monitor.

Next steps: the finance committee will perform a deeper review of building budgets, staffing options and charter-cost drivers; the board will receive refined proposals in coming weeks with final budget adoption targeted for June.