Superintendent's Office

Dear Remsen Community,

We have been hard at work preparing our Student Opportunities Plan (proposed budget) for the 2026-2027 school year. Thoughtful planning and monthly Board of Education work sessions enabled our team to develop a fiscally responsible budget, responsive to our students’ needs, with only a slight tax levy increase of 1.5%. This increase is well below our allowable New York State Property Tax Cap levy increase limit and reflects our continued commitment to balance the needs of our school district with the financial challenges that we all are currently living.

You will notice on the orange cardstock Budget Notice that comes in the mail to each District resident, and on page 6 of this newsletter, the proposed budget increase of 7.65%. This increase includes the addition of the new debt service from our current Capital Improvement Project. What is not stated on the aforementioned Budget Notice (a NYS Template that all districts are required to use) is the increase in Building Aid that we will realize to pay for the new debt service respectively. Likewise, the listed cost of $353,000 on this same Budget Notice for the purchase of two new diesel buses is the cost before State transportation aid. The actual cost to the District after aid for the purchase of the two diesel school buses will be $66,717.

In addition to voting on the proposed 2026-2027 budget in the amount of $16,115,375, we will also be voting on one proposition. The proposition on the ballot will be for the purchase of two diesel school buses. The proposed purchase is part of an ongoing bus replacement plan designed to keep the District’s fleet in safe, working order by phasing out buses that are no longer cost effective to maintain. If the proposition is approved, the actual cost to the District will be significantly less than the amount sought. Approximately 81.1% of the cost would be reimbursable through state aid.

Remsen is a very special place to live, learn, and work. Together, we understand that our goal must always be to ensure that we leave our children, for generations to come, with an even better community and school than we have today. This is accomplished by continuing to work together to provide our children with a solid academic foundation, full of diverse learning opportunities and experiences. Even if you currently do not have students enrolled in school, your support of Remsen Central plays a critical role in raising, teaching, and growing our youth into productive, responsible, kind, hard- working citizens.

Our budget hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 12th at 6:00 PM in the elementary library media center. Please consider joining us to learn more about our Student Opportunities Plan and to hear from our one Board of Education candidate seeking election. If you are unable to attend, the full presentation will be posted to our webpage shortly thereafter. Additional budget and Board of Education election information may also be found throughout this newsletter. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Our school budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 19th , from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the Elementary cafeteria. Voter parking spaces will be reserved at the front of elementary parking lot closest to the cafeteria doors. Back by popular demand, our FFA students will be selling plants outside of the cafeteria doors starting at 3:00 PM and student artwork will be on display for all to enjoy.

Thank you for your unwavering support of our school community. We remain dedicated to cultivating and supporting each student’s individual abilities and interests as they confidently work to realize their full potential to lead happy, healthy, successful lives. Working together, we will ensure that our students continue to Soar to Success!

It is an honor and a privilege to be your superintendent, a graduate of RCS, and a lifelong resident of the Remsen Central School District.

Sincerely, 

Superintendent