Clinton Co. school districts set budgets at or below tax levy cap

PLATTSBURGH | Local school Boards of Education and administrators in Clinton County have completed 2025-2026 School Budget proposals. Plans will be presented to district residents at public hearings set by each district ahead of voting day, Tuesday, May 20. CHAZY CENTRAL RURAL SCHOOL (CCRS) The proposed 2025-26 School Budget at Chazy Central Rural School is $14,388,000, an increase of 3.18 percent. The tax levy, the amount to be raised by taxes, is $5,859,307 and under the state tax levy limit. There are two open seats on the CCRS School Board. Two candidates one running, Chris Demers is seeking a four-year term, unopposed and Tim Howley is seeking a four-year term, unopposed. For the Chazy Public Library Board of Trustees, which is elected during the school voting process, Debbie Powers is running for a five-year term, unopposed. Proposition No. 1 on the CCRS ballot seeks voter support for the 2025-26 School Budget. Proposition No. 2 seeks voter approval to raise a sum not to exceed $38,000 to support the Chazy Public Library. The School Budget hearing is set to be held in the CCRS band room on May 13 at 7 p.m. The School Budget vote is set for May 20 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the CCRS music room. NORTHEASTERN CLINTON CENTRAL SCHOOL (NCCS) The proposed 2025-26 School Budget at NCCS is $38,420,000, an increase of 5.43 percent The proposed tax levy, the amount to be raised by taxes, is $12,379,258, an increase of $181,743, or 1.49 percent, which is below the 2 percent tax levy cap. Two candidates, Stephen Southwick and Mandie Bechard, are seeking reelection to their two open seats on the School Board. There are three propositions on the NCCS ballot. Proposition 1 seeks voter approval for the $38,420,000 School Budget. Proposition 2 seeks voter approval to purchase four 66-passenger diesel engine school buses at a cost not to exceed $715,000. Proposition 3 seeks to raise $11,500 for each of three community libraries for a total $34,500. The School Budget hearing will be held May 7 at 6 p.m. during the regular School Board meeting in the District Office board room. The School Budget vote will be held May 20 from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. with polling sites at the Middle School, 103 State Route 276 in Champlain for Champlain and Rouses Point residents, and at Mooers Elementary, 16 School Street, for Mooers residents. PLATTSBURGH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (PCS) The proposed PCS 2025-26 School Budget is $55,873,862, an increase of 6.07 percent. The proposed tax levy (the amount to be raised by taxes) is $25,907,674, an increase of 1.73 percent. The levy increase is at the tax levy cap. Three items are being presented to voters on the ballot: 1. School Board election: There are three vacancies on the PCS School Board, all are three-year terms that begin July 1. The candidates will appear on the ballot as follows: Gary Lambert, Jessica Perry, Brigitte Phillips, Dr. Kylie Goodell King, Alison "Ali" Rosenbaum, Sandra Ghelman, Clayton "Clay" Morris, Elizabeth Goerlitz-Coryer and Jason Howard. 2. Proposal to adopt the $55,873,862 PCS School Budget. 3. Plattsburgh City School District seeks voter approval for the proposed Capital Project at a cost not to exceed $15,000,000. The total cost would be offset by use of $2,000,000 from the district's capital reserve fund and $850,000 of available district funds. Voter approval would permit the district to bond for an amount not to exceed $12,150,000. The proposed Capital Project is designed to add security improvements at all school district buildings: Plattsburgh Senior High School, Stafford Middle School, Momot Elementary School, Glasgow Elementary School and Oak Street Elementary School, along with reconstruction and improvement of outdoor athletic facilities, site work and site improvements, original furnishings, fixtures and equipment in all district buildings. The school administration has prepared a Capital Project presentation that is available online: plattscsd.org The PCS School Budget hearing is set for May 7 at the regular School Board meeting in the Duken Administrative Building. The meeting begins at 6 p.m., the budget hearing would begin at 7:30 p.m. The School Budget vote is Tuesday, May 20, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Glasgow Elementary School (School Election District 3); Duken Administrative Building (School Election District 2); and at Momot Elementary School (School Election District 1). SARANAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT The proposed 2025-26 Saranac Central School budget is $44,943,781, a 4.16 percent increase over current spending. The proposed tax levy, the amount to be raised by taxes, is $15,678,881, an increase of 1.11 percent, which is at the tax levy cap. There are two open School Board seats, one five-year term and one two-year term. Candidates for the five-year term are Cody McCasland and Dustin Judd. Candidates for the two-year term are Jeremy Frenyea, Courtney Stone and Chelsea Liberty. There are four propositions on the Saranac Central School ballot: Proposition 1 seeks voter approval of the $44,943,781 budget. Proposition 2 would authorize the district to withdraw and expend a maximum of $250,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund for the acquisition of school buses and associated equipment. Proposition 3 would authorize the School Board to approve the submission of the proposition of the Dannemora Free Library trustees for an annual appropriation of $25,000. Proposition 4 would authorize the School Board to enter a ten-year lease agreement with ELCO Properties, LLC for property located at 128 Park Row in Cadyville for the special education preschool program. The district currently has a five-year lease, but is proposing a 10-year lease to allow the district to potentially receive a significant amount of aid in return on a yearly basis. The Preschool program is funded through county funds and not through the Saranac Central School. The property includes the former school building with approximately 22,000 square feet and about 10.2 acres of land, which is available for public inspection. A copy of the proposed lease agreement is available for public inspection at the Office of the District Clerk. The Saranac Central School budget hearing will be held May 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the District Office in Dannemora. The School Budget vote is Tuesday, May 20 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Morrisonville Elementary School library.

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Clinton Co. school districts set budgets at or below tax levy cap

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