Budget Season Starts at MCS

MIDDLEBURGH - It is still fall, but Middleburgh school officials are already thinking of next spring's budget vote for the 2026-27 school year.

At their meeting last week, school board members adopted a 2026-27 budget development calendar.

Key dates in the budget calendar are:

* 11/12/2025 Board of Education Meeting Public Session 6PM, Adopt the 2026-27 Budget Development Calendar.

* 1/5/2026 Send out Education Data requisition and Budget spreadsheets to instructional staff via email 1/7/2026. Business Administrator attends Jr/Snr. Faculty meeting to review budget development information to Instructional staff (i.e., Ed Data requisitions, budget requests, subscription renewal lists).

* 1/14/2026 Board of Education Meeting Public Session 6PM Budget Workshop #1. Budget Information, 2026-27 Rollover budget and assumptions.

* 1/21/2026 Business Administrator attends ES Faculty meeting to provide budget development training to Instructional staff (i.e., Ed Data requisitions, budget requests, subscription renewal lists).

* 2/1-2/28/2026 Department Budgets (i.e., Main Office, PPS, technology, athletics, B&G, transportation) submitted and reviewed.

* 2/11/2026 Board of Education Meeting Public Session 6PM Budget Workshop #2 Review State Aid estimates and Tax levy limit calculation Review Capital and Administrative Budget components. 

* 2/27/2026 Last day to submit requisitions/request purchase orders with 2025-26 year funds.

* 2/27/2026 2026-27 Requisitions and budget spreadsheets due from Instructional Staff/Coordinators * 2/27/2026 Preliminary Tax Levy Limit submitted to NYS Office of State Comptroller.

* 3/1-3/8/26 Review Ed Data requisitions/Budget Spreadsheets/revised budget as needed.

* 3/11/2026 Board of Education Meeting - Budget Workshop #3 Public Session 6PM. Review Estimated revenues/Program Budget component/Overall preliminary budget Review 2025-26 year Fund Balance projection.

* 3/30/2026 Legal Notice of School Budget Hearing and Annual Budget Vote 6PM. Must advertise four times within seven weeks of the vote - first publication 45 days prior to vote Notice #1 to be published (Submit on this day for publication on April 2 and 3.

* 4/1-4/18/2026 Prepare absentee ballot applications, absentee ballot, related envelopes, and directions Property Tax Report Card submitted to local newspaper.

* 4/10- 4/21/2026 Prepare Budget Workbook/Newsletter (Finalize by 4/23/26).

* 4/11/2026 Submit the Property Tax Report Card (PTRC) to NYS.

* 4/13/2026 Legal Notice of School Budget Hearing and Annual Budget Vote 6PM. Notice #2 to be published (Submit on this day for publication on April 16 and 17) .

* 4/15/2026 Board of Education Meeting Public Session 6PM Adopt Tentative 2026-27 Budget/propositions for voter approval. Appoint clerks and inspectors of elections for budget vote. 

* 4/20/2026 Deadline for filing Board of Education petitions and propositions for vote must be submitted to the District Clerk by 5PM.

* 4/21/2026 Date of drawing by District Clerk for determination of order for listing Board of Education candidates on ballot Inform candidates of legal requirement for all candidates for election to BOE to file sworn statements of campaign contributions and distribute informational material. First sworn statements to be filed with District Clerk & Commissioner of Education 30 days prior to vote date. 

* 4/24/2026 Media Release on Proposed Budget Required Documents available in District Office and on District website: School District Report Card, Fiscal Accountability Statement, Property Tax Report Card, Administrative Salary Disclosure, and Tax Exemption Notice, Budget Notice, Transparency Report Absentee Ballots available from the District Clerk Budget Workbook available on District website/at offices.

* 4/29/2026 Board of Education Meeting - BOCES Budget Vote Time TBD.

* 4/24/2026 Distribute military ballots (no later than 25 days before vote).

* 4/27/2026 Legal Notice of School Budget Hearing and Annual Budget Vote Notice #3 to be published (Submit on this day for publication on April 30 and May 1.)

* 4/29/2026 Annual Budget Hearing Presentation posted to the District's website.

* 5/4/2026 Legal Notice of School Budget Hearing and Annual Budget Vote Notice #4 to be published (Submit on this day for publication on May 7 and 8).

* 5/6/2026 Annual Budget Hearing/Board of Education Meeting Public Session 6PM.

* 5/7/2026 Budget Newsletter/Notice mailed to eligible voters after budget hearing.

* 5/14/2026 Second sworn statement of campaign contributions or loans by candidates for membership on the Board of Education to be filed with the District Clerk 5/14-5/18/2026 Sworn statements of campaign contributions or loans in excess of $1,000, received before vote date and not previously reported, to be filed with the District Clerk within 24 hours of receipt by candidates for membership on the Board of Education.

* 5/19/2026 Annual Budget Vote/Proposition Vote/Board of Education Election noon - 9PM Junior/Senior High School Gymnasium Lobby Absentee Ballots must be submitted to the District Clerk by 5pm on May 19.