Marcellus board adopts $43.33 million 2026–27 budget, schedules May 19 public vote

The Marcellus Central School District Board of Education on April 6 adopted a proposed $43,330,431 budget for the 2026–27 school year and directed that the proposition be placed before district voters on May 19, 2026.

Superintendent Charlotte said the board and staff weighed reductions "with real emotional cost" and sought to protect class sizes while trimming costs. "Making those decisions truly to reduce staff members is not easy at all," she said, describing the process as methodical and intended to preserve student programming.

Don presented the budget numbers and said the district is proposing $43.33 million in spending, a 2.3% increase from the prior year and roughly a $1 million net increase in costs. He said the district began with a budget gap of about $1.46 million driven by higher utilities, insurance and contractual obligations alongside constrained state aid. To close the gap, the administration proposed two positions not to be refilled through attrition (a second-grade teacher and a 7–12 English teacher) and six reductions in force, along with trimming BOCES services where feasible. He said the board would use approximately $262,000 in reserves to balance the budget if necessary.

Board members asked about the state aid formula and "hold harmless" status, and Don said the district would need about 200 additional students to return to formula aid; the district has seen enrollment fall from about 2,000 in 2010 to roughly 1,400 now. He also noted the district is proposing to stay within the 2.7% property tax cap for the year.

After discussion the board approved the resolution to adopt the budget and place the proposition before voters following a motion (moved by Justin; seconded by Jen). The motion carried.

Next steps: the district will hold its annual budget hearing on May 11, 2026, and the budget proposition will appear on the May 19 ballot.