Budget Development Calendar

2025-26 Budget Development Calendar

September 2025

Sept. 16 – Board of Education meeting: 

Review BOCES billing and identify increases in service for previous years.

Responsible: school business executive

December 2025

Dec. – Teacher Leader team meetings to develop Needs Assessment and review projected student enrollment by area/department, grade level and building. 

Responsible: Superintendent, administrators and teacher leaders

Dec. 9 – Board of Education meeting: 

Adopt Budget Calendar: 2026-27

Foundation Aid Projections

Review district expenses and identify increases for previous years - Athletics, Instructional Program (Curriculum and Student Services).

Responsible: Board of Education (BOE), superintendent, and school business executive 

January 2026

Jan.  – Teacher Leader and Admin Meetings to review completed Needs Assessments and projected student enrollment by area/department, grade level and building.

Responsible: Superintendent, administrators, school business executive and teacher leaders

Jan. 13 – Board of Education Meeting

Highlights from Needs Assessments

Review education highlights from Governor’s proposed executive budget (State of the State).

Establish Budget parameters and identify initial gap to continue all programs. 

Responsible: BOE, superintendent and school business executive 

February 2024

Feb. 10 – Board of Education meeting 

Governor's Executive Budget and Waterville CSD Tax Cap Calculation.

Review of State Aid runs

Budget Rollout: Adminstration

Responsible: BOE, superintendent, and school business executive

Feb. 24 – Board of Education meeting

Tax cap approval and bus purchases

Budget Rollout: Athletics, Instructional Program (Curriculum and Student Services)

Responsible: Superintendent and school business executive

March 2024

March 1 – Tax Levy Limit Calculation due to the Office of the State Comptroller 

Responsible: Superintendent and school business executive

March 10 – Board of Education meeting Part 1

March 10 - Board of Education meeting Part 2 

Budget Rollout: Transportation, Technology, Operations and Maintenance, Debt Service, Benefits 

Responsible: BOE, superintendent, and school business executive

March 24 – Board of Education meeting

Budget discussion and deliberation

BOE examines fund balance options to supplement revenues if needed.

Responsible: BOE, superintendent, and school business executive

March 31 – April 4 – First Legal Notice: Notice of Budget Hearing/Election to newspapers. 

Responsible: district clerk

April 2024

April 14 – Board of Education meeting:

By April 1, the NYS Legislature must adopt a budget. District updates its state aid projection.

Review and Formal Adoption of 2026-27 Budget Adoption Property Tax Report Card submitted (Due by April 27).

BOE approves election inspectors 

Responsible: BOE, superintendent, and school business executive

April 17 – Second Legal Notice: Notice of Budget Hearing/Election to newspapers. 

Responsible: district clerk

April 20 – Submission of petitions by BOE candidates

Deadline of 30 days prior to the budget vote. Inform candidates of legal requirements for election to BOE - file sworn statements of campaign contributions and distribute informational material.

First sworn statement to be filed with the District Clerk and Commissioner of Education thirty days prior to vote date.

Board candidate biographies due. 

Responsible: district clerk

April 21 - May 13 – Mail Ballots: Clerk must mail an absentee ballot for every qualified voter who requests one. Must be mailed no earlier than 30 days or later than 7 days prior to the election. 

Responsible: district clerk

April 21 – Propositions to be on the ballot are finalized 25 days before vote.

Budget notice and newsletter sent to BOCES print shop and mailed by PJ Green.

Responsible: Superintendent, school business official, district clerk, and public information officer 

April 24  – Mail ballots distributed no later than 25 days before the vote. 

Responsible: District Clerk

April 29 – Board of Education meeting

Final adoption of Budget if needed 

BOCES Election and Administrative Budget Vote   

Responsible: BOE, superintendent, district clerk 

May 2024

May 1 – Third Legal Notice: Notice of Budget Hearing/Election to newspapers. 

Responsible: district clerk

May 6-13 Mail School Budget Notice/Budget Newsletter – Must arrive in homes after the budget hearing but no later than 6 days prior to the budget vote. 

Responsible: school business executive, public information officer

May 12 – Faculty meeting presentation - Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium 

Administrator compensation disclosure available and transmitted to SED via SAMS 

Responsible: superintendent and school business executive 

May 12 – Budget Hearing and BOE Meeting 6:00 p.m. (No less than 7 or more than 14 days prior to the vote)

May 16 – Fourth Legal Notice: Notice of Budget Vote/Election to newspapers 

Responsible: district clerk

May 19 – Budget Vote and Board Member Election

10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria 

381 Madison Street

Responsible: district clerk

June 2024

June 9 – Statewide budget revote day (if applicable)