Cairo-Durham proposes $38.3 million school budget

CAIRO―Residents of the Cairo-Durham Central School District will head to the polls later this month to vote on a proposed $38,313,861 budget for 2026-27. It comes with an estimated 4.23% tax levy increase, which is the district’s maximum under the state’s property tax cap.

Total spending is up 2.03% with a year-to-year budget increase of $762,159. According to the district, the main factors that drove the increase are salaries, benefits and special education tuition.

“The new spending plan preserves every student program despite a difficult economy,” said Superintendent Michael Wetherbee.

“The proposed budget will continue to fund the diverse opportunities our students need to succeed, from high-level academics to technical skills,” he added.

To keep the budget within the allowable tax cap, district officials utilized $1.4 million in appropriated fund balance and $150,000 in appropriated reserves―the same amounts applied to last year’s budget.

In addition to the total tax levy of $18,055,748, the district is also looking at $18,186,720 in state and federal aid revenue.

The district encompasses all or part of seven towns and, if the budget passes, property owners will see varying increases in their school tax bill depending on where they live. According to the district, a property owner with a $100,000 assessment can expect an estimated annual increase of $45.16 in Athens, $110.96 in Cairo, $138.70 in Catskill, $100.87 in Coxsackie, $88.26 in Durham, $90.31 in Greenville, and $100.22 in Rensselaerville. Those in the Durham hamlet of Cornwallville are looking at an approximate $40.45 annual increase.

In addition to the budget proposal, voters will also be asked to approve an amount not to exceed $470,000 to purchase three buses, and creation of a separate capital reserve fund for future bus purchases.

Another proposition asks voters to decide on a $790 increase to give the Cairo Public Library a $23,333 annual appropriation.

Three incumbent board of education members are seeking reelection unopposed for three-year terms. They include Stephen Brandow, Nicole Plank and Bernadette Gavin-Palmieri.

The vote takes place on Tuesday, May 19 from 1-8 p.m. in the high school distance learning room.