2026-27 Budget

Amount of Proposed Budget: $59,838,634

Proposed Budget Decrease vs. Current Year, In Dollars: $1,965,845
Proposed Budget Decrease vs. Current Year, In Percentage: 3.18%

Local Tax Levy Increase, In Dollars: $353,695
Local Tax Levy Increase, In Percentage: 2.75%
Average Tax Levy Increase In Past Ten Years: 2.55%

Proposition No. 1: The Budget for the 2026-2027 school year.
Shall the Board of Education of the Camden Central School District be authorized to appropriate and expend an amount not to exceed $59,838,634 for general purposes for the school year 2026-2027, and to levy a tax on the taxable real property of the school district as provided by law?

Proposition No. 2: The Acquisition of Gas Buses and Student Transport Vehicles, which shall appear as follows:

“Shall the Board of Education of the Camden Central School District be authorized to purchase and finance four (4) 65-passenger gasoline buses and two (2) 8-passenger minivans, including necessary furnishings, fixtures and equipment and all other costs incidental thereto, and expend a total sum not to exceed $770,000, which is estimated to be the total maximum cost thereof, and said amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law; and, in anticipation of such tax, obligations of said School District, in the principal amount not to exceed $770,000, be issued?

The election of Board of Education members as follows: 

• Elect three members to the Board of Education of the Camden Central School District for “at-large” vacancies, all with three-year terms ending on June 30th, 2029. Positions are “at-large” positions; therefore, the nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy on the Board. The three candidates that receive the greatest number of votes will fill the seats whose terms end June 30, 2026.

The following candidates have met the petitioning requirements to appear on the ballot. Following a random draw, it has been determined that they will appear in the following order:

1. Scott Collins
2. Misty Portner
3. Ashley Hurd

Space for write-in candidates will also be made available on the ballot.

• 2026-27 Budget Newsletter
• Three-Part Budget Statement (Formatted With Pie Charts)
• Three-Part Itemized Statement
• School District Budget Notice 
• Property Tax Report Card
• Academic Report Card
• Academic Assessment Data 
• Financial Transparency Report 
• Administrative Salary Disclosure
• Oneida County Property Tax Exemption Impact Report 
• Oneida County Property Tax Exemption Impact Summary
• Lewis County Exemption Impact Report 
• Lewis County Exemption Impact Summary 
• Video of May 12th Budget Hearing
• Budget Presentation Slides - As Delivered At Hearing To Be Held May 12th

If the proposed budget is passed by voters, it will be enacted for the 2026-27 school year. If it is not passed, the Board of Education has the following options.

• Place a revised budget before residents for a vote.
• Place the same budget before residents for a second vote.
• Immediately adopt a contingency budget.

Per the State of New York, a budget may be submitted to the voters no more than twice. 
If the voters fail to approve the budget after the second submission, the board must adopt a contingency budget.

• Contingent Budget Fact Sheet

A qualified voter is one who is: 

1. a citizen of the United States of America, 
2. eighteen years of age or older, 
3. resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election, and 
4. not otherwise disqualified to vote by applicable law. 

The School District may require that all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver’s identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require that all persons offering to vote provide their signature, printed name and address.

Apartment dwellers who meet these qualifications are eligible. No prior registration is required and residents do not have to be registered voters. (Education Law § 2012)

Qualified voters of the District may obtain applications for absentee ballot or early voting ballot from the office of the Clerk of the School District. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M. prevailing time, on May 18, 2026, and must be received no later than 5:00 P.M., prevailing time, on May 12, 2026 if the absentee or early voting ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Completed applications received after 5:00 P.M. on May 12, 2026, will require the voter to personally appear at the office of the Clerk of the School District to receive an absentee or early voting ballot. A listing of all persons to whom an absentee or early voting ballot is issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter during regular business hours in the office of the Clerk of the School District during each of the five business days prior to the election. The completed ballot is due to the District Clerk by Tuesday, May 19th at 5:00 PM.

• Ballot Application is available for pickup: April 6th
• First day District Clerk may receive a ballot application: April 20th
• Window to receive ballot via mail: April 22nd - May 12th
• Deadline to apply for a military ballot: April 23rd, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
• Last day District Clerk may mail a ballot: May 12th
• Deadline for District Clerk to receive a ballot application: May 18th, 5:00 p.m.
• Completed ballot due to District Clerk by: May 19th at 5:00 p.m.