Corning-Painted Post schools propose $146.8M budget over tax cap. What's driving costs?

Yahoo

21-05-2025

Residents in the Corning-Painted Post Area School District will vote May 20 on a proposed 2025-26 budget of just over $146.8 million that includes a 6.33% increase to the spending plan.
Taxes will rise from $20.32 to $21.23, a 91-cent increase per $1,000 of assessed value from last year's spending plan, according to Michelle Caulfield, C-PP Superintendent of Schools.
Caulfield said factors affecting the increase include the rising cost of health insurance, utilities, contractual salaries, school district department budgets, BOCES services and transportation.
'Strong schools create strong communities,' Caulfield said. 'Our proposed budget focuses on educational opportunities, service learning, community engagement and multiple pathways to graduation. Our teachers, staff and administrators have dedicated their careers to creating these experiences and they are second to none. We are proud of the programs we provide students and are grateful for the community's support.'
Caulfield said the budget proposal preserves everything, including safety, instructional programming, athletics, and before and after school extracurricular activities.
'It preserves programs like the High School Learning Center and the International Baccalaureate Program, our modified athletics program and our elementary and performance bands,' Caulfield said. 'These are all key components of our students' education and experiences.'
Bill Cameron, C-PP spokesperson, said the proposed budget exceeds the tax cap and requires a 60 percent supermajority vote to pass.
The 2024 spending plan also required a supermajority vote for the first time in over 15 years. Voters rejected the initial plan, which included a $139.1 million budget and a 4.97% tax levy hike. Changes were then made to the budget, which later passed with a revised $138 million spending plan featuring a 2.97% percent tax levy hike.
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A public hearing for the 2025-26 spending plan will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 13 at the C-PP High School Cafeteria.
Voting polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at the C-PP High School at 201 Cantigney St. in Corning, the C-PP Administration Building at 165 Charles St. in Painted Post, Corning Town Hall at 20 S. Maple St. in South Corning, and Erwin Valley School at 16 Beartown Road in Painted Post.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Corning-Painted Post district budget up for vote May 20, over tax cap