2026-27 Budget Development Calendar

September / October

Board Guidelines to Superintendent

November / December

Instructions to Key Budget Contributors 

December 19

Budget Requests to Business Office

January 5

Staffing & Program Requests Business Office and Superintendent

March 4

Presentation of Budget Priorities

• Review of District Priorities
• Enrollment Projections
• Staffing Projections
• Revenue Projections Overview

• Maximum Allowable Tax Levy 

March 18

Instructional Programs, Student Support Services & Technology

• Chester Elementary School
• Chester Academy Middle School & High School
• Technology
• Special Education and Student Support Services
• BOCES Instructional Services

March 25

Facilities, Transportation & Athletics

• Building & Grounds
• Transportation
• Athletics

April 8

Undistributed Expenses, Central Services, & BOCES Services

• Undistributed - Debt Service, Benefits, Inter-fund Transfers
• Central Services
• Central Admin, BOE
• BOCES Administrative Services

April 21

Final Budget Overview & Board Actions

• Final Budget Overview
• Contingent Budget Review
• Board of Education Adopts Appropriations Budget
• Adopt Property Tax Report Card
• Vote on BOCES Budget and Candidates

May 6

Legal Budget Hearing

May 19

Budget Vote

Petitions Due by 5pm for Board of Education Seats

Petitions for propositions to be placed on ballot

Property Tax Report Card to SED & local papers

Military Ballots distributed

Budget Available to Public

Legal Budget Hearing

Last day for absentee ballots to be mailed