The district is developing a frequently asked questions (FAQ) related to the 2026-27 school budget. If you have any questions related to the budget, please fill out this form.
We will continue to update the FAQ throughout the spring, leading up to the May 19 budget vote.
Updated May 1, 2026
What are our student-to-teacher ratios at each level – elementary, middle and high school – and how do they compare to Greenwich, Salem, Hoosic Valley, and NYS recommended standards?
A comparison can be found in the April 30, 2026 presentation. You can also view the state recommended ratios, which were last updated in 2025.
Which administrative positions at CCS don’t exist at comparably sized districts like Greenwich, Salem or Hoosic Valley?
In the proposed 2026-27 budget, the district will have an elementary principal and Jr./Sr. high school principal. The high school associate principal is not being replaced. The elementary will be supported with a dean of students and the high school will be supported with a dean of students/athletic director.
Comparably sized districts have a similar number of positions. Salem does not have a dean of students, but they have fewer students enrolled.
Which positions are vacating through attrition this cycle, and for each, is the plan to backfill, eliminate, or reallocate those funds – and if reallocating, to what?
- 10 Month Clerk – eliminate
- 12 Month Clerk – eliminate
- HS Science Teacher – eliminate
- Jr./Sr. Associate Principal – eliminate
What shared services do we currently use through BOCES or other co-ops, and what does each cost annually?
All of the services listed below are BOCES aided. The district pays the initial cost up front and then receives aid. The aid rate varies by service but is approximately 70%.
- Network Technician & Microcomputer Specialist – $79,500
- WAN/LAN Support – $10,567
- Food Service Support – $38,268
- Home School Support – $15,000
- Teacher Residency – $61,295
- ESL Teacher – $121,900
- Distance Learning – $68,885
- Special Ed Out of District Placements – $561,000
- Physical Therapy – $103,800
- Occupational Therapy – $102,563
- CTE – $332,350
- Early College in High School – $115,000
- Parsons – $48,000 ($15,000 grant from MMC)
- Health Insurance Consortium – $5,853
The district is in discussion to potentially try to share more special education services, but nothing has been finalized at this time. There are no other services that we have decided to keep in-house when there was an option to outsource.
How has the per-pupil cost funded by the levy (levy divided by students) trended over the past five years? How does that compare to surrounding districts?
This information can be found in the April 30, 2026 presentation.
I keep hearing that consolidation is a solution that will raise the level of education while also efficiently managing the budget. I have also read examples of how consolidation would do the exact opposite. Can you speak to this with facts and examples?
There is no current plan for consolidation. First, there must be a school that would want to merge with us. We have not reached out to any schools nor have any reached out to us regarding consolidation. Second, a comprehensive study would have to occur. We have not contacted any group to begin this study. The process of what a merger would entail would commence. This process takes on average 2-3 years.
We have not looked into successful or unsuccessful mergers at this time.
What line items are causing the greatest lift in expenses over last year?
All contractual obligations for salaries and benefits are always the greatest lift from year to year as salaries and benefits make up close to 70% of the budget.
What would a contingency budget look like from the perspective/experience of a child?
- Nearly 125 students would now have to walk to school or be driven by a parent
- Class sizes could be 20 or more
- No new technology or software could be purchased or replaced potentially leaving students behind other area districts
- Potential reduction in after school club activities
- Reduced opportunity for field trips and beyond the classroom learning opportunities
- No late bus, limiting access to extra help
- Fewer electives and college readiness opportunities
- Fewer AIS/MTSS supports
- No ability to build back a tech program
- Potentially higher fees for community organizations as there would be a charge to use the building and facilities
Updated March 4, 2026
Have you considered cutting or restructuring administrative positions?
Yes. An administrator is retiring in June. Whenever an individual retires or leaves the district, we review if the position needs to be filled or if it can be consolidated/restructured through attrition.
Does the school receive funding for out of district students?
Yes, the district can receive aid for out of district placements, depending on where students are placed.
If a contingent budget is adopted, what services, programs and extracurriculars would be impacted, and in what ways?
Under a contingency budget, state law dictates spending may only be on ordinary, necessary operating expenses.
Districts cannot spend money on the following items:
- New equipment purchases – buses, vehicles, large equipment purchases
- Nonessential capital work – building upgrades, renovations, technology
- Community use of facilities beyond basic access – no new extracurricular, no field trips beyond basic curriculum
- Technology – No new software, computer purchases, tech expansions
In contingency, capital costs cannot be reduced due to legal obligations (debt, utilities, etc.). Administrative costs are frozen, and as the smallest percentage of the budget, leaves little room to cut. Program costs are the only place left to cut because they are the largest percentage of the district’s budget.
Until the Board of Education adopts the 2026-27 budget proposal, the district cannot determine an accurate contingency budget. More information about contingency budgets can be found in the Feb. 26 presentation.
Can you provide more detailed information regarding administrative, capital and program expenses in the budget?
Please view this presentation which breaks down the account codes for the current 2025-26 budget and the proposed 2026-27 budget.
Could the district utilize money from the auditorium project to offset the current revenue deficit?
No. The funds from the capital project and the district’s budget proposal are separate and cannot be used interchangeably.
Updated Feb. 12, 2026
Why can’t the district raise taxes later if it needs to?
The tax cap does not reset. Each year’s limit is based on the prior year’s levy. If the prior year’s levy was below the cap, the allowed increase for the following year is also lower.
Isn’t staying under the cap good for taxpayers?
In the short term, yes. But over time, it can lead to:
- Program cuts
- Fewer services
- Larger future increases
- Reduced financial flexibility
Small savings today can create bigger problems later.
Doesn’t the district have reserves for situations like this?
Reserves are one-time funds. They do not replace permanent revenue and cannot be relied on year after year without consequences.
Can the district make up the revenue deficit in a future year’s tax cap calculation?
No. Once revenue is not collected, it cannot be added back into the tax cap calculation later.
Is this about raising taxes as much as possible?
No. The budget proposal is about preserving the district’s current educational programming and maintaining stability in district finances while meeting required costs.
Is the district maximizing attrition opportunities?
Yes, the district reviews every vacancy to decide if the role needs to be filled. The district has consolidated and absorbed a number of positions through attrition.
Are there any incentives for people to retire early?
There are incentives built into the teachers’ contract.
How much state aid will we receive? How did it compare to other years?
The district is slated to receive a 1% increase in foundation aid, which equates to $95,000. This 1% increase is slightly lower than what the district was projected to receive.
In terms of federal funding, how much do we receive and how much have we lost?
We receive approximately $680,000 in federal title funding. We thought we may lose that funding, but we have not lost any of it to date. If we do, we would need to cut more staff. The district has begun putting salaries back in the local budget to limit staff cuts in the event the federal funding is reduced or cut altogether.
What about the UPK Program?
The UPK Program is grant funded and we hope to work with Salem and other local schools to bring in some of their students to create additional revenue. The district can receive $10,000 per student.
What are reserve funds?
Please view the document from NYSED outlining the different reserve funds.
What is a contingent budget?
Under state law, school boards can submit a budget to voters a maximum of two times. If the proposed budget is defeated twice, the board must adopt a contingency budget. The school board also has the option of going directly to a contingent budget immediately after the first budget defeat. Under a contingent budget, the district may not increase spending by more than 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index or four percent, whichever is lower. The items exempt from this cap are tax certiorari settlements, debt service (mortgage payments) and costs associated with enrollment growth. Under a contingent budget, the percentage of the budget devoted to administrative costs cannot increase from what it was in the prior year’s budget or the last defeated budget, whichever is lower. Once a contingent budget is established, community residents are no longer allowed to petition boards of education to put additional items up for a separate vote.
Has there been any talk of consolidation?
At this time, neither the Cambridge or Salem communities have engaged in a merger discussion. If there was interest, each Board of Education would need to approve and provide funding for a feasibility study to be conducted.