Business officer John Fink presented a preliminary $97.6 million rolled budget with an estimated $3.5 million revenue gap; after applying an assumed $2.5 million of fund balance the shortfall is about $1 million. The board discussed tradeoffs including prior uses of fund balance and a May capital‑project ballot with three propositions.
Board members discussed whether to add a second polling site for the May 19 budget and capital‑project vote. Supporters said it could increase access; opponents cited legal complexity, voter confusion and tight timelines. The board asked administration and counsel to review feasibility and law before any decision.
PPS presenter Nicole Triasi told the Cornwall Central School District board the district will adjust several specialized‑class ratios for 2026–27, suspend a low‑enrollment middle‑school "success" class and expand high‑school community‑based instruction to better fit students' needs.
Staff representatives reported a string of classroom and extracurricular highlights across district elementary schools, middle school and high school — from Black History Month lessons and a visiting therapy dog to a new CCMS home and careers classroom and an AI committee at the high school.
District business official Mr. Fink presented a preliminary 2026–27 rollover budget with $97.0 million in expenditures, about $94.0 million in projected revenues and a roughly $3.5 million shortfall; the board discussed relying on assigned fund balance, a possible 3% levy, and uncertain UPK state aid ~ $480,000. The board reviewed three capital propositions to appear on the May ballot.
After announcing a resignation, the board added an agenda item and voted to appoint Jim as vice president for the remainder of the year and approved Brendan as policy committee chair; the motions were approved by voice votes with no recorded opposition.
At a community forum the Cornwall Board of Education described a proposed tax‑neutral capital package of roughly $44.5 million that would address aging infrastructure and safety systems across district buildings, and presented optional tax‑increase propositions for classroom additions and athletic‑field upgrades that could raise the total package to an estimated $55 million if the schedule and financing assumptions hold.
Finance staff told the board that spikes in water and sewer costs, modest state‑aid growth and rising TRS/ERS and health‑insurance rates mean a tighter 2026–27 budget; a needs assessment lists $1.8M in requested priorities including counselor and nurse positions.
Facilities committee recommended keeping Proposition 1 tax‑neutral at about $44.5M, presenting Proposition 2 (classroom additions, $21M, partly tax‑impacting) separately, and proposing a high‑school baseball/softball field as Proposition 3; board discussed tax‑impact messaging and next steps toward a March vote.
The board approved personnel tenure, the AIS plan (2025–2027), the consent agenda (including OU BOCES nominations), and adjourned; attend the next meetings for final budget and bond votes.
