Odessa-Montour school officials are making another attempt to pass a district budget after voters rejected a proposal earlier this week that carried one of the region’s steepest tax levy increases.
The Odessa-Montour School Board voted Thursday night to send a revised $23.15 million budget back to voters on June 16, lowering the proposed tax levy increase from 13% to 6.2% after the original plan failed to reach the required supermajority during Tuesday’s statewide school budget vote.
The district’s first proposal, totaling $23,390,156, received support from 56.8% of voters on May 19 but still failed because the levy increase exceeded the state tax cap threshold. Under New York law, budgets proposing tax levy hikes above the cap require approval from at least 60% of voters.
The revised spending plan totals $23,150,708 and reflects additional state Foundation Aid announced this week, along with increased pre-kindergarten aid. District officials reduced the overall spending proposal while lowering the tax impact on residents ahead of the revote.
Even with the reduced levy increase, the proposal still exceeds the district’s state tax cap limit of 3.12%, meaning it will again require a 60% supermajority to pass.
Voting is scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. June 16.
If the revised proposal fails, the district would move to a contingency budget, which typically limits spending flexibility and restricts certain purchases and non-essential expenditures.
Odessa-Montour was among a small number of districts across the Finger Lakes and upstate New York to see budgets rejected during Tuesday’s annual school vote. Prattsburgh voters also rejected a budget proposal that included a tax levy increase exceeding 40%.
Most districts across the region approved their budgets, transportation propositions, and capital reserve measures despite continued concerns over inflation, staffing costs, transportation expenses, and long-term facility needs.
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