No Cobleskill-Richmondville school board members like the budget they adopted Monday night.
But the divided board followed Superintendent Matt Sickles’ lead and adopted the proposed $48.4 million 2025-26 budget in a 5-2 vote.
Two of Mr. Sickles’ recommendations–-cutting a full-time librarian and part-time art teacher–-drew criticism, especially from the public. (See related story in this week’s Times-Journal.)
Mr. Sickles closed the gap between spending and revenues by using fund balance, or savings, and cutting non-personnel items, he said after the meeting.
Fund balance continued to be an issue, and many in the public believe C-R has plenty in savings to fund t ...

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Funding cuts in Washington may hit home in Schoharie County.
Cuts to the US Department of Agriculture will affect the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which provides low-cost food to pantries and agencies that aid families in need.
Many––but not all––local food pantries could be short of food.
“We’ve watched the amount of food from USDA steadily decline,” said Cindy McClure of the pantry at the First Baptist Church in Cobleskill, which aids about 1,300 families per year, though some come only once.
“Things on our list just disappeared. People are scared. People who are already insecure are more scared.”
Through the efforts of the Department of ...

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What do you think tourism should look like in Schoharie County?
That’s the question the Destination Marketing Corporation–the county’s local tourism partner and the vision behind Visit Schoharie County–is asking in a quick anonymous survey available online at https://bit.ly/SchoharieRSS.
After a few demographic questions, the survey asks respondents a half-dozen questions on whether they feel tourism here has a positive–or negative–impact on things like the economy, cultural and leisure activities, and atmosphere and whether the county should do more to promote itself to potential tourists–and from where:
Just New York State? The United States? Or the world?
Sam ...

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As expected, the state has appealed the landmark ruling that found its solar and wind tax rates unconstitutional.
The appeal was filed Thursday in Albany County Supreme Court.
Schoharie County Energy Committee chair Don Airey is still sifting through the 26-page Notice of Appeal, but said Friday he would have been more surprised if it hadn’t come.
“We’re used to this,” he said. “This is what they do. We’re been preparing. All this does is clarify things. But now the burden is on the state.”
It was on March 3 in State Supreme Court that Sullivan County Judge James Farrell ruled the state’s Real Property Tax Law 575-b, which heavily discounts tax assessments on sola ...

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Schoharie will be going Saturday in a fundraiser for 13-year-old Kylie Parslow-Bradt, who’s battling a brain tumor.
There will be a Easter egg hunt and #KylieStrong fundraiser from 11am-2pm at the Schoharie fire House with games by the Schoharie County Youth Bureau and other fun.
A chicken BBQ by Barbecue Delights will be available by pre-order at (518) 860-8337, with a portion of the proceeds going to help with Kylie’s chemo expenses and ongoing care.
Serving will start at 12:30pm.
There will also be a basket raffle with more than 50 baskets, including one with four season Red Sox passes already donated.
For more information or to donate, call (518) 573-15 ...

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