Cherry Valley-Springfield board previews budget, flags 3.5% levy and May 19 vote

At the March 5, 2026 meeting of the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School District Board of Education, School Business Official Denise Wist reviewed the district's preliminary budget framework and calendar. Wist said the budget is organized into three components—Administrative, Program and Capital—and that the board is 'looking at the tax levy of 3.5%.'

Wist also flagged state aid timing and growth: she reported the district received half of its Building Aid in December 2026 and said Foundation Aid is 'only 1% when it is usually 2%,' which will affect revenue projections. She laid out upcoming dates: the board will adopt the budget on April 2, 2026; hold a budget hearing on May 7, 2026; and the budget vote is scheduled for May 19, 2026. No formal budget adoption or vote occurred at this meeting.

The discussion included operational constraints the business office faces when preparing figures early in the month and noted that any large equipment purchases (for example, a copier replacement) may be funded from reserves subject to voter approval. The superintendent and business official also discussed prioritizing capital needs, including a water/wastewater project, over adding electric buses to the May 19 ballot.