Unadilla Valley Central School District voters approved a $27.6 million budget for the 2025-26 school year to voters on Tuesday, May 20, by a vote of 131 to 31.
The fiscal plan includes an overall 8.92 percent increase in expenditures - or $2.3 million - from the current year. However, $1.4 million of that increase is due to a Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) being used to fund the ongoing capital project. This $1.4 million is being funded through state building project aid - not via the tax levy. When these funds are removed from the budget, the actual year-to-year increase in operating expenses would be 3.38 percent.
The two seats on the board of education currently held by Tammie Emrich and Linda Tuller were up for a vote. Emrich is choosing to not run for re-election, while Tuller is seeking another term. Tuller and board newcomer Samantha Kemnah were unopposed. Tuller received 151 votes, while Kemnah received 138 votes.
A proposition to lease three non-electric school buses was approved by a vote of 137 to 26..
A proposition to help fund the South New Berlin Library was also approved by a vote of 136 to 21.
A proposition on the ballot creating a Capital Reserve Fund with the ultimate amount of $10 million was approved by a vote of 132 to 28. The fund would be established using a variety of potential sources, including non-appropriated general fund balances from the current year.
“Under this budget, Unadilla Valley will maintain all current programming and staffing levels. We are planning for an additional Pre-K classroom beyond the two we currently have, which is a good sign for district enrollment,” Superintendent Brenton Taylor said. “There continue to be uncertainties with both the state financial landscape, as well as federal education funding. However, our board of education and leadership team has worked hard to develop a budget that takes these uncertainties into account, helps us to continue strengthening our programs, and accounts for the financial burdens our taxpayers face.