Budget Gap Drops With Adjustments

Some adjustments to expenses and revenues for next year have brightened the outlook for the 2026-27 budget for Waterville Central School District.

WCS Superintendent Zach Abbe said at last week’s meeting that a few areas were trimmed to bring the budget down to $23,474,688.

That makes the gap in revenues down to $388,149, which can be managed through the District’s fund balance, Abbe said.

Some of the changes include leaving the New York State School Boards Association, dropping the position of grant writer through OHM BOCES and reducing the onsite ambulance standby for soccer games.

Programming will see a slight increase as salaries are adjusted with the one-year move next year of sixth graders to the Junior-Senior High due to construction at Memorial Park School.

Tentatively a Special Education teacher will be added, Abbe said, since one of the two cannot be taken from MPS and the Junior-Senior High teachers cannot take on more students.

MPS could add a reading teacher.

Abbe said it’s shown that if students leave third grade not at their grade reading level it’s rare they can catch up.

Abbe said paying for a standby ambulance had limitations, such an being unable to transport an injured player unless it was life-threatening. ...