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Caledonia-Mumford board adopts $23.56 million budget with 0% tax-levy increase
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Summary
The Caledonia-Mumford Central School District Board adopted a $23,560,437 budget for 2026–27 on April 14, approving a third consecutive year with no levy increase and using reserves and state aid to balance the plan.
The Caledonia-Mumford Central School District Board on April 14 adopted a $23,560,437 budget for fiscal year 2026–27, voting unanimously to keep the district tax levy flat for a third straight year.
Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Chanel told the board that the proposal was "mission driven" and maintained core programs while keeping the levy at 0 percent. "So tonight, Brandon and I are gonna present the budget that we're ready to have you all accept," she said during the presentation of the proposal.
Board and administration highlighted priorities funded in the plan: continued security upgrades (including camera and control-system investments), a district-school resource officer per building, expansion to full-day universal pre-K (registration already above initial targets), increased access to dual-enrollment programs through the regional BOCES, and a renewed emphasis on literacy and STEAM programming where feasible.
Administrators said the budget is balanced through a mix of state aid, targeted reserve use and revenue adjustments. Finance staff noted a $200,000 appropriation from the unemployment reserve and increased anticipated BOCES aid and investment income as part of the revenue picture. The budget presentation also emphasized that capital-project-related debt service drives much of the year-over-year increases but is largely offset by building aid.
The board moved to adopt the budget; the motion was made by board member John (identified by first name in the transcript), seconded and carried 6–0. Dr. Chanel said the district will continue outreach ahead of the public budget vote and that the administration had prepared a contingency plan in case the budget did not pass.
The board also approved related procedural items at the meeting, including the property tax report card and the BOCES administrative budget, all by unanimous votes. The district set May 19 as the annual budget vote and continued its public information efforts in advance of that election.
What happens next: the budget is now in place and will be presented to voters on the scheduled ballot date. Administration said it will publish more detailed explanations to the community and continue to monitor revenues and reserve use as the fiscal year progresses.
