Budget & Finance

The school budget is the biggest investment the community collectively makes with its tax dollars. District leaders work to make the most effective use of resources to benefit students, to develop and manage the budget in a responsible and transparent manner, and to be accountable to taxpayers.

Each spring the Board of Education adopts a budget for the coming school year for a community vote. New York State has designated the third Tuesday in May as the date for school budget votes.

2026-27 Budget

Voters in the Ogdensburg City School District approved the 2026-27 budget on Tuesday, June 16 by a vote of 900 to 615. District officials expressed appreciation to residents who turned out to vote and to those who attended information sessions and Board of Education meetings in recent weeks to better understand the district’s financial position.

The $58,228,386 carries a 3.81% spending increase and a 3.99% tax levy increase. The proposal was first rejected on May 19 by a margin of 301 to 329.

The approved plan includes the district’s elementary reconfiguration, which will shift UPK-1 students to Grant C. Madill Elementary and grades 2-6 to John F. Kennedy Elementary, with Ogdensburg Free Academy continuing to serve grades 7-12. The restructuring is designed to align staffing and resources with enrollment and reduce long-term costs. More information is available in the district’s elementary reorganization overview.

“We appreciate the community’s engagement throughout this process,” said superintendent Kevin Kendall. “Residents asked questions, attended meetings, and took the time to understand the financial pressures created by insufficient state aid funding and rising operational costs. This budget allows us to maintain essential programs and continue providing strong learning opportunities for all students.”

Voters also approved the transportation proposition authorizing the purchase of 13 gas-powered buses at a cost not to exceed $2,521,504. The vehicles qualify for up to 85% State Aid reimbursement, and many of the district’s current vehicles are no longer under warranty. The proposition passed by a vote of 897 to 611.

Review the full budget document here.

2026-27 Budget Newsletter

Budget Information Session Flyer

Budget Proposal Presentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Historical Tax Data

An increase in the property value assessment will impact the total school tax paid. The information below is provided for a property value assessment of $100,000 that remains constant for ease of comparison. The school district does not determine property assessment.

School Year	Tax Levy Total amount collected from taxpayers based upon total assessed value of property in the school district	Net Change Increase or decrease to the tax levy	Tax Rate Amount paid per $1,000 assessed value of property	Net Change Annual increase or decrease in school tax for a $100,000 home from previous year
2020-21	$10,598,360	$0/0%	$27.04	+$36.16
2021-22	$10,598,360	$0/0%	$26.98	-$4.47
2022-23	$10,598,360	$0/0%	$25.97	-$70.25
2023-24	$10,598,360	$0/0%	$22.29	-$257.68
2024-25	$10,598,360	$0/0%	$21.37	-$64.72
2025-26	$10,862,259	$263,889/2.49%	$20.81	-$104.00
2026-27 *projected	$11,295,663	$443,404/3.99%	$21.64	+58.11

The tax rate shown is a blended tax rate: a rate that combines taxes from properties in the city of Ogdensburg, the town of Oswegatchie, and the town of Lisbon, that are within the Enlarged Ogdensburg City School District.

Propositions

2026-27 School Budget

A $58,228,386 budget for the 2026-27 school year that represents a 3.81% increase in spending and includes a 3.99% tax levy increase.

Transportation

Voters rejected a transportation proposition to allow the district to purchase 13 student transportation vehicles at a cost not to exceed $2,521,504. The gas-powered buses would qualify for up to 85% state reimbursement. The district’s current vehicles are no longer under warranty. The proposition failed by a vote of 307 to 317.

June 2026 Revote Results

Budget Vote

Pass or Fail? Pass

Yes Votes: 900

No Votes: 617

Transportation Proposition

Pass or Fail? Pass

Yes Votes: 897

No Votes: 611

May 2026 Budget Results

Budget Vote

Pass or Fail? Fail

Yes Votes: 301

No Votes: 329

Transportation Proposition

Pass or Fail? Fail

Yes Votes: 307

No Votes: 317

Board of Education Election

Two candidates sought election to two open seats on the Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education. Both seats carry five-year terms, expiring June 30, 2031, and beginning July 1, 2026.

• Mrs. Renee` Grizzuto: 480 votes
• Mrs. Angela McRoberts: 522 votes

Ogdensburg City School District Board Approves 2026-27 Budget Development Calendar

School leaders and the board of education have begun the 2026-27 school budget process that will result in a budget proposal to go before voters on Tuesday, May 19. Below are important budget-related events and objectives.

Budget Objectives

1. Preserve high-quality educational programs

Provide students with the academic, social and emotional supports needed for success through strong instruction, extracurricular opportunities and targeted interventions.

2. Align staffing and resources with enrollment trends 

Implement an elementary program reorganization to create consistent grade-level experiences, strengthen instruction and ensure efficient, sustainable use of district resources.

3. Maintain a rigorous, student-centered curriculum 

Support continued investment in research-based instructional materials, innovative teaching strategies and practices that promote critical thinking and deeper learning.

4. Strengthen literacy instruction districtwide 

Expand professional development and classroom practices aligned with the Science of Reading to build strong foundational literacy skills across all grade levels.

5. Plan for expanded graduation pathways 

Begin developing additional graduation pathway opportunities to provide students with multiple, meaningful ways to demonstrate readiness for college, careers and life beyond high school.

6. Maintain safe and effective facilities 

Complete necessary flooring improvements at Ogdensburg Free Academy through a capital outlay project that maximizes state aid and minimizes local financial impact.

7. Ensure safe and reliable student transportation 

Replace aging buses with dependable gas-powered vehicles eligible for significant state aid, supporting student safety while managing costs responsibly.

8. Address rising operational costs responsibly 

Manage increased utility and operational expenses while limiting the impact on taxpayers amid continued insufficient state funding.

9. Demonstrate fiscal responsibility and transparency

Develop a balanced budget that supports student needs, maintains essential services and keeps the community informed throughout the budget process.

Calendar of Budget & Election Activities

Download the complete 2026-27 Budget Development Calendar

• Mid-January: Announcement of Governor’s budget proposals
• Feb. 9: Elementary Schools, Special Education and Computer Assisted Technology budget presentations to the Board of Education. Secondary Principals, Athletic Director and Buildings & Grounds budget presentations to the Board of Education
• Feb. 23: Overall budget discussion at the Board of Education meeting
• Mar. 2: Final BOCES contract presentation to the Board of Education/Overall budget discussion
• Mar. 16: Board of Education adopts budget
• Apr. 3, 6-10: Spring Break, NO SCHOOL
• Apr. 15: Property Tax Report Card due to SED & newspaper within 24 hours after Board of Education adopts budget (no later than Tuesday, Mar. 17)
• Apr. 1-Apr. 5: Budget and election legal advertisement must appear for the first of four publications. The district clerk must publish notice of date, time and place of annual meeting and election four times during the seven weeks preceding the date of the annual meeting and election. Notice of date, time and place of public budget hearing must be included in the notice of annual meeting and election. Last publication must appear within seven days of budget hearing
• Apr. 29: Board of Education petitions due (20 days before election)
• May 5: Voter registration (2 weeks before vote)
• May 6: Public Budget Hearing (7-14 days before vote)
• May 4-13: Budget Notice/Newsletter mailed to residents
• May 13: Deadline for mailing Budget Notice/Newsletter (6 days before vote)
• May 19: Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election
• May 20: Board of Education regular meeting and Canvass of the Vote
• Copies of budget documents must be available by May 6, 2026

(Copies of the budget must be available 14 days immediately preceding the date of the annual meeting and election)

Budget Development Process

Under New York law, the school budget vote and election occurs on the third Tuesday in May, unless a district files a request with the commissioner of education to move the date to the second Tuesday in May based upon a conflict with a religious observance. School district Boards of Education work to develop a budget throughout the school year.

View a glossary of budget terms.

View the 2025 Annual Budget Vote & School Board Election timeline as determined by the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA).

UPCOMING EVENTS