Qualified voters of the Schuylerville Central School District will vote on a $40 million proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year on May 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the District Office Board of Education room. The $40 million proposed budget calls for a 1.71% spending increase and an estimated tax levy increase of 1.99%, which is below the district’s allowable tax cap. Tax rates for individual properties will be determined over the summer once equalization rates and assessments are available for the district’s seven towns. Year to year, the budget always includes previously-agreed upon salary increases from all current contracts, as well as increases or decreases to other expenses depending on the needs of the district.
State aid is historically a large portion of Schuylerville’s revenue each year, equating to about half the district’s budget. This year, in Governor Hochul’s executive budget proposal, Schuylerville received a 2% increase in foundation aid, but will lose building aid, which corresponds to a bond that’s expiring. This results in a projected decrease in overall revenue from the 2024-25 budget. The district intends to use $1.7 million of fund balance to cover the gap of lost revenue and expenditure increases. Over the next two years, the district plans to reduce the use of fund balance to a more manageable figure of $1 million.
Capital Project Proposal
Also on the ballot will be a capital project proposal, which underscores the district’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving school facilities, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of students, staff, and the broader community.
The estimated cost of the capital project proposal is $10,795,000, which will align with the expiration of current bonds. As a result, there will be no additional tax impact to fund the capital project. If the project is approved by voters, the district will work to finalize the details of the design and construction and submit plans to the NYS Education Department. Construction would span from summer 2027 to the summer of 2028. Click here to read more about the proposed scope of work and for a video that highlights details of the project.
“The proposed project is designed to tackle items that were left out of previous initiatives and address new priorities that have emerged,” said Superintendent Dr. Ryan Sherman. “Since the district’s last major project concluded in 2019, several areas have been identified as needing attention.”
“We believe both proposals are a smart investment in our schools and our community,” added Schuylerville Board of Education President Bernie Buff. “The budget keeps our programs strong and supports students and staff, while the capital project allows the district to make important upgrades with no additional tax impact.”
Board of Education Election
During the May 20 annual budget vote, voters will elect two members to the Schuylerville CSD Board of Education to fill the following positions:
- One five-year term beginning July 1, 2025. The seat is currently held by Bernie Buff.
- One term that will commence immediately after the May 20th election (or as close thereto) to succeed Michael Bodnar, who resigned effective Aug. 31, 2024. The term expires June 30, 2027. The seat is currently held by Shaun Cumm, who was appointed by the Board of Education to fill the vacancy for the 2024-25 school year.
Candidates
Shaun Cumm has worked for more than 20 years as a Cardiology Physician Assistant at Adirondack Cardiology and Glens Falls Hospital, where he provides inpatient and outpatient care and performs cardiac stress testing. Cumm is a graduate of South Glens Falls Central School and holds a Biology degree from SUNY Cortland and a Physician Assistant certificate from Le Moyne College. He has served two, one-year terms on the Board, beginning in May 2023. Cumm also previously contributed to the district’s Code of Conduct committee and regularly volunteers with the varsity football and basketball programs. Over the past 12 years, Cumm has coached numerous youth and club teams in football, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. He is also a long-time volunteer and core committee member of the South High Marathon Dance. Cumm and his wife have three Schuylerville students: Landen (grade 12), Blake (grade 10), and Avery (grade 9).
Bernie Buff has lived in the Schuylerville community since 2009. A Senior Construction Engineer for Verizon Wireless, Buff oversees wireless facility projects throughout upstate New York. He holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and an Associate of Arts degree from Hudson Valley Community College. Buff served as an interim Board member from November 2019 to May 2020, and was elected to a five-year term in May 2020. Buff currently serves as Board President. He has also served on the Audit Committee, as a delegate to the Saratoga County School Board Association, and as a member of the CSEA Negotiating Committee. Buff and his wife Cathleen have two daughters who attended Schuylerville schools for grades K-12: Maeve (Class of 2022) and Anika (Class of 2024).