Cazenovia Central School District Administration and BOE Plan Next Steps Following Budget Decision

The Cazenovia Central School District will be asking voters on June 18 to weigh in on a revised budget proposal that will be at the district’s calculated tax levy limit and include a reduction of $400,000 compared to the proposal that voters rejected on May 21 by 34 votes. 

“We are thankful to all who came out in support of our school budget. We recognize we are in challenging financial times, which is why we asked students and their families, district staff and community members for their input as we created the proposal voters weighed in on,” said Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio. “Unfortunately, our students will feel the impact of a reduction in program and services as we work to develop a new budget proposal that is at the district’s calculated tax levy limit.” 

On May 23, the Board of Education reviewed new recommendations from the district and ultimately decided to make $400,000 in cuts to present a new $38.4 million budget that is at the district's tax levy limit of 4.02%. The new budget proposal will require a majority vote for authorization rather than the supermajority the previous proposal needed. 

To reduce the budget by $400,000, the district is proposing to cut a reading teacher, an instructional coach, and make reductions to athletics, and technology. In addition, the district has fewer participating employees in its health insurance, which results in a cost reduction. 

Over the past year, the school has been recognized as the top-performing school in Central New York for its English Regents exam scores, ranked among the top high schools in US News, and named one of the nation’s best communities in music education. 

“Our students perform at high levels, and we want to continue offering programs that make our community proud and Cazenovia a desirable place to live,” DiFulvio said.

If the new budget proposal is voted down on June 18, the district will be forced to implement a contingency budget, which would require an additional $885,248 in cuts. This would involve limiting the number of athletes on certain teams, reducing to no more than two teams per program, and cutting a second instructional coach, an assistant principal, an SRO, a second world language teacher, its second CTE teacher in three years, physics, astronomy, theater courses, the orchestra program, music electives, all teacher-leader positions, and 20% of extracurricular activities. 

Additionally, the district would have to eliminate all public use of its facilities, only allowing use on a charge basis.

“We certainly don’t want to think about a contingency budget, but it is a reality. I worry about the impact this would have on our youth programs, our seniors who use the buildings for walking, and the overall feel of our community. Our schools are the center of everything we do in Cazenovia,” DiFulvio said.

A school budget hearing is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, in the high school cafeteria, 31 Emory Ave.

The school budget vote is Tuesday, June 18. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the middle school auxiliary gymnasium, 31 Emory Ave.