Budget & Taxes

Developing the annual school budget proposal is a year-round process that involves the Watervliet Board of Education, as well as district and school leaders.

On the third Tuesday of each May, that process culminates when residents go to the polls to vote on a school budget proposal for the following year and to elect Board of Education members.

2026-27 School Budget Vote

The 2026-27 School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Polls will be open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Please mark your calendars and be sure to vote! 

Proposed 2026-27 Budget Presentations/Workshops

  • February 10, 6 p.m. – State Budget Overview with NYS Assembly Member John McDonald at BOE Meeting, WJSHS Conference Room 
  • March 10, 6 p.m. – BOE Meeting — Presentation #1, WJSHS Conference Room  
  • March 31, 6 p.m. – Community Budget Workshop — Presentation #2, WJSHS Conference Room 
  • April 14, 6 p.m. – Final Budget Presentation — Presentation #3, WJSHS Conference Room  
  • April 29, 6 p.m. – Special BOE Meeting for BOCES Budget Vote, WJSHS Conference Room 
  • May 5, 6 p.m. – Public Budget Hearing, BOE Meeting, WJSHS Conference Room 
  • May 19, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Budget Vote and BOE Election (Board will meet at 8:30 p.m. to receive the budget vote results)

Voter Information

If you are looking for information on absentee ballots, polling locations and voter registration, please visit the Voter Information page.

Budget Overview

Budget Statement (2024-25)

The annual budget statement includes the following components:

Budget Archive

2024-25 School Budget at a Glance

  • Budget Total: $41,394,000
  • Spending Increase: $3.6 million (or 9.6%)
  • Tax Levy Increase: 1.89%

2023-24 School Budget at a Glance

  • Budget Total: $37,759,000
  • Spending Increase: 11.9 percent (or $4 million)
  • Tax Levy Increase: 2.13 percent

2022-23 School Budget at a Glance

  • Budget Total: $33,736,000
  • Spending Increase: 10.7 percent (or $3.27 million)
  • Tax Levy Increase: 2.04 percent

View the WCSD State Foundation Aid Funding Plan

2021-22 School Budget at a Glance

  • Budget total: $30,463,000
  • Spending Increase: 6.7 percent (or $1.9 million)
  • Tax Levy Increase: 0.5 percent

2020-21 School Budget at a Glance

  • Budget total: $28,560,000
  • Spending Increase: 1.30 percent
  • Tax Levy Increase: 1.98 percent

Fundamentals of Budget Development

Learn the ABCs of school budget development in less than 3 minutes by watching the video clip below: