According to West Canada Valley Officials, Proposed 15% Tax Levy Increase Heads to Public Vote

District officials say rising costs, limited state aid increases, and past efforts to keep taxes low have created major financial pressure heading into the 2026–2027 school year.

According to official budget documents released by the West Canada Valley Central School District, the proposed 2026–2027 school budget totals approximately $21.9 million, which is actually lower than the current year’s overall budget.

However, despite the lower overall spending plan, the district is proposing a 15% increase in the tax levy, increasing projected property tax revenue from about $5.56 million to roughly $6.39 million.

District officials say the increase is tied to years of keeping taxes flat or below the allowed cap while expenses continued rising in areas like transportation, health insurance, utilities, and contractual obligations.

The district also stated that state aid is only projected to increase modestly and does not fully cover operational cost increases.

According to the budget newsletter, administrators have been working with school finance consultant Dr. Rick Timbs to develop what officials describe as a long-term fiscal stabilization plan.

The district says if the proposed budget fails and a second revised budget is also rejected; state law would require the district to adopt a contingency budget with no tax levy increase. Officials warned that scenario could force additional staffing reductions and cuts to student programs, athletics, extracurricular activities, and equipment purchases.

Residents will also vote on a separate proposition authorizing the district to borrow up to $500,337 for the purchase of four school buses as part of the district’s replacement plan.

The public budget hearing is scheduled for May 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the High School Library and will also be streamed online. The official budget vote is scheduled for May 19, 2026, from 12 PM to 8 PM in the High School Lobby.

One of the major questions now facing the community is whether taxpayers support the proposed increase or believe the district should reduce spending further instead.

Another question some residents may ask is how the district reached this point after multiple years of holding taxes near zero growth. The district attributes much of the current pressure to rising costs and prior decisions to minimize levy increases.

If you have information, concerns, or questions regarding the proposed budget, you can contact district officials directly or attend the upcoming hearing.

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We’ll update the story if additional verified information becomes available.

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