CRCS To Close Budget Gap

COBLESKILL - On Monday evening, the CRCS Board of Education heard a presentation from Superintendent Matthew Sickles on the third draft of the upcoming 2026-2027 budget. 

Last month, members were told that they faced a considerable budget gap of $1,246,367, and when Superintendent Sickles asked for guidance on how to close it, the Board unanimously thought to use their surplus in the fund balance more aggressively.

Now, with the budget committee following that guidance, there have been several updates since last month to significantly tighten the gap even further.

Superintendent Sickles began the presentation by listing these changes, noting that they have reviewed and updated department budgets, updated special education projections, monitored the volatility related to fuel and utility costs, and increased the use of their fund balance and restricted reserves.

Translating these updates into usable numbers, the committee has projected a further $401,353 saved in expenditure reductions, $22,069 from revenue adjustments, and spent another $450,000 from the fund balance to bring the gap down to a remaining $417,083.

And yet, while the number was cut by more than half, the budget is still in the red. Superintendent Sickles cautioned against using more of their surplus, noting that they already plan to spend about $2,950,000, which is over $600,000 more than last year’s usage.

“We have a path to look at tonight,” he began. “It’s an uncomfortable path, but it is a path, and a path is what we need to get to a balanced budget.”

Elaborating on his sentiment, he drew the Board’s attention to five positions, explaining that all of them are confirmed retirements, and he suggested that the positions be retired as well through attrition.

The first is a 1.0 FTE position for Science 7-12, and the impact would mean reducing sections of either Chemistry or Physics, reducing sections of Earth Science, and shifting electives to other avenues.

The second would be a 0.6 FTE position for Math 7-12, where the district could make up the difference by merging classes together, having other teachers teach six classes, and shifting a math credit to their CTE area.

The third would be a 1.0 FTE position for English 7-12, where they would similarly see multiple teachers teach six classes, and the fourth would reduce a 1.0 FTE position for the elementary schools, where enrollment trends already show a steady decline for mitigated impact.

The final position for reduction consideration would be a 0.5 FTE position related to occupational therapy, as the need for these services vary wildly on student need, and the district believes that they could work off 3 FTE instead of 3.5.

If these positions were to be reduced, the district would save anywhere from $45,000 to $98,000 per reduction. If these changes were coupled with more miscellaneous updates for an extra $9,263, it would bring the gap to zero.

“This is a path to a balanced budget,” Superintendent Sickles stated.

Board feedback began with President Bruce Tryon, who said “I am most appreciative that you used more fund balance and listened to the Board. This is my least favorite part of the job. We’re not sitting up here to cut positions, or cut through attrition, but this is a path.”

The sentiment was echoed by Steven Philbrick, saying “I’m glad that we’re using more money from the fund balance. While it’s uncomfortable, I think it’s reasonable.”

With the rest of the Board following the same line of thinking, members scheduled one final special budget workshop for April 13th, which will be open to the public, before the budget is available for the vote in May.