Cobleskill-Richmondville won’t have a Citizens Budget Committee to help with the 2025-26 budget because not enough citizens volunteered to help.
C-R began asking for volunteers in December, hoping for at least 20, and only 12 signed on, Mr. Sickles said last week.
In past years, the CBC met three times to hear budget presentations and offer feedback about the district’s financial proposals.
Such was the case a year ago, Mr. Sickles said.
“We listened to the Citizens Budget Committee last year and incorporated some of their ideas in the budget,” he said.
School officials had expected a full CBC this winter because of last year’s success and also because C-R is considering adding a school resource officer, a somewhat controversial proposal, in the coming year.
C-R will now pivot a bit. Because the budget presentations to the CBC are the same given at school board meetings, C-R will encourage more citizens’ attendance at the meetings.
The school district may also hold a budget workshop at some point to draw participation.
Encouraging attendance and holding a workshop offers different avenues for people to take part, Mr. Sickles said.
“The goal is not to be less transparent,” he said.