Proposed Gilboa-Conesville Budget Has 2.5 % Tax Hike

GILBOA-CONESVILLE — Voters in the Gilboa-Conesville Central School District will consider a 2026-27 budget of $13.39 million with a 2.5 percent property tax increase when they go the polls on May 19.

Also on the ballot will be one school board seat up for election and two transportation propositions. District Superintendent Bonnie Johnson went through the budget numbers again during a presentation at the school board's public budget hearing on Thursday, May 7.

The total budget of $13.39 million is 2.5 percent higher than this school year. The 2.5 percent proposed tax increase is lower than the state cap set for the district for 2026-27 of 3.28 percent, Johnson added.

Expenses are going up in many areas, the Superintendent noted. Employee benefits are projected to increase by $104,000 for 2026-27; debt payments up $100,000; tuition up $100,000 for students who go out of the district because of BOCES; employee health insurance up 11 percent and dental insurance up 2.5 percent. Retirement costs are also increasing, Johnson added.

In comments emailed to this newspaper after the May 7 meeting, GC Treasurer Marianne Romito explained that "to protect the programs and services our students depend on, we are projecting the use of $1,608,576 in fund balance and $287,000 in reserves for the 2026-27 budget year. Following this planned use, our fund balance will stand at $935,015, a reserve we are committed to maintaining as we work toward long-term financial stability."

"Like many school districts across the state, Gilboa-Conesville is navigating real financial pressures _ rising costs and an ongoing shortfall in state funding," Romito continued. "We take the responsible stewardship of public funds seriously. Our team is actively pursuing cost reductions and advocating for fair state funding. We will keep our community informed every step of the way."

Nobody in the audience at the May 7 public hearing had any questions or comments on the proposed budget. Voting will be from noon to 8 p.m. on May 19 in the gymnasium lobby of the school at 132 Wyckoff Road, Gilboa.

Incumbent Jacquelyn McGuire and challenger Aurora Zinck-Cornell are vying for the school board seat now held by McGuire. Whoever is elected will serve a five-year term starting July 1. Both offered some brief comments at the May 7 meeting. McGuire, a GC graduate, said she works for the "best education programs while being mindful of taxpayers. I'm really excited about the direction our school is headed."

Zinck-Cornell said this is her second time running for school board. She has a daughter attending GC and said she is "big on public education and making sure kids get what they need and making sure teachers and staff have all the support they need."

She added she is also an advocate for a School Resource Officer at the school.

The two transportation propositions on the May 19 ballot ask for an up or down vote on purchases of a 60-passenger, full-size school bus for $181,253 and a Chevrolet Suburban for $69,300.