Five-year Projections Show Dismal Outlook

Creating a five-year financial plan would help the Waterville Central School District alleviate an upcoming financial crisis.

Dr. Rick Timbs, who owns a financial consulting business geared to public schools, gave a 90-minute presentation on the District’s future finances.

Timbs is a former superintendent around New York state, including Oriskany Central School.

Timbs said his research into WCS’s finances included looking back and looking forward five years each on expenses and revenues.

He noted the Board would be approving the 2026-27 budget to go to voters next month with a state budget still not approved.

Waterville, like many districts, he said, is dependent on state aid, with the biggest category coming under Foundation Aid.

This year that aid went up 2 percent and next year - under the governor’s proposal in the unsettled budget - 1 percent.

For WCS that will mean an additional $104,000. “That’s not a big boost to the ...