A tiny tax hike and no cuts in programs are the key features of Cobleskill-Richmondville's proposed 2016-17 budget.
Superintendent Carl Mummenthey called the projected tax hike "negligible," and school board members agreed in adopting the budget Monday night.
Projected spending for next year totals $39.6 million, up about $1 million from this year's $38.5 million.
But the tax levy is rising by only $42,154, in line with C-R's tax-levy cap of .27 percent.
Although he cautioned that equalization rates, released in August, could change the tax increase, Mr. Mummenthey said the increase might be $2 or $3 on a $1,000 tax bill.
"You'd hardly feel it," he said.
Still, allowing the levy to increase by one-quarter of one percent left C-R little room to maneuver.
"The budget process has become a year 'round endeavor and each year another 'wrinkle' is added to the puzzle," said board President Bruce Tryon.
The budget maintains items cut in previous years but restored last year, such as field trips, athletics and teaching positions. And it adds several new programs.:
•A new director of technology and more funding for technology.
•A computer literacy instructor to help students use computers more effectively.
•A new English as a Second Language course, which is cheaper than one C-R previously had through BOCES.
•Another mental health counselor to help students.
•Increased funding for academic and co-curricular programs.
The additions and maintained programs "focus on the needs of our students," Mr. Mummenthey said.
And a small tax increase is equally important, he added.
"We are mindful of the needs and capacities of our communities' residents and taxpayers," Mr. Mummenthey said.
Although the budget picture looks bright for 2016-17, the same may not be true for the following year, 2017-18.
The state eliminated the Gap Elimination Adjustment, money Albany withheld from schools to balance its own budget in past years.
That means C-R is getting an additional $600,000 in 2016-17. The district can't expect a similar boost in 2017-18, Mr. Mummenthey said.
"That's new money this year," he said.
As expected costs rise the following year--salaries, insurance and utilities, for instance--a much smaller increase in aid may mean more financial belt-tightening in 2017-18.
That's in the future, however. For now, the larger slice of state aid helps C-R students and taxpayers, according to Mr. Tryon, who pointed to help from Senator Jim Seward and Assemblyman Pete Lopez.
"They have proven year in and year out that they understand and acknowledge the plight of the financial-strapped rural school districts in Upstate New York," Mr. Tryon said.
Both he and Mr. Mummenthey praised the Citizens' Budget Committee, whose members helped with the budget over the winter and early spring.