It was the second attempt for the Cortland Enlarged City School District to have the 2023-2024 budget approved by voters after their first attempt was rejected in May.
The revised budget for voters the district sought approval for last night was a 3.7% increase in the tax levy with a proposed budget of $53,466,042. The first budget that was rejected had a 9.5% tax levy increase. The high increase required a supermajority for budget approval; the district failed to get general approval.
Voters approved proposition #1 (the revised budget) 608-291, an approval of 67%. The results from yesterday’s vote are tentative, the district stated in a release until it is adopted by the Board of Education in their next meeting slated for this Thursday at 2 pm.
The approval of last night’s vote saves the district from being forced into a contingency budget, which would’ve required the school to operate under last year’s budget numbers and require an additional $300,000 in spending cuts.
The cut in spending would’ve included removing non-contingent expenses, adding rental fees for community use of facilities within the district, staffing cuts, reduction in programming opportunities for students, and increasing the use of the reserve funds.
Though, with the budget now approved, the school district will have to reduce staffing and the summer driver’s education program eliminated.
