CLINTONVILLE — The AuSable Valley Central School District has proposed a revised budget for the 2026-27 school year with even more reductions in teacher positions and student services.
INITIAL BUDGET
The AVCS District includes Keeseville Elementary School, Au Sable Forks Elementary School and the Middle-High School in Clintonville. The district’s initial budget proposal failed May 19 and had included a 12% tax levy increase in its proposed $38,605,400 plan.
The increase in the tax levy, which is the total amount the district gets through taxes, exceeded the state mandated tax cap of 2% and required a 60% yes vote to pass.
This threshold was not reached after 638 taxpayers voted in favor of the budget and 780 voted against it.
After the proposal failed, the district had the option to propose a revised budget that had less of an impact on taxpayers.
“We understand this was a tough ask for our community during this difficult economic time,” AVCS Board President Aubrey Bresett said after the budget failed. “The board has worked diligently to protect programming for students at every turn.
“Following the outcome of the vote, we now face another round of difficult budget decisions as we continue operating with very limited flexibility and lean resources.
“Our focus remains on making thoughtful reductions while preserving the strongest possible educational experience for students.”
REVISED BUDGET
Now, the proposed revised 2026-27 budget totals $38,355,400, $250,000 lower than the previous proposal and $830,450 less than the 2025-26 budget.
The district wrote in its recent budget message that to reach the 5.95% tax cap, it made substantial reductions and operational changes, including staffing reductions through attrition; grade-level reorganization; reductions in counseling and student support services; reductions in arts, music, and technology staffing; transportation reductions; and expanded shared services through BOCES.
In the initial proposal, the district already made cost saving measures that included class reductions in second and fourth grade at Keeseville Elementary; moving the sixth grade to the middle school, reducing four positions in the process; the reduction of the music teacher, art position, technology position and BHSN crisis counselor at Keeseville Elementary; elimination of the 5 p.m. bus run; and moving the district office to Au Sable Forks Elementary.
In the revised budget, additional reductions include:
— Reduction of the 12-month high school typist position.
— Elimination of all equipment purchases.
— All extracurricular coordinators.
— The speech teacher.
— Sports mergers due to participation.
— Reduction of the athletic trainer.
— Reduction of the School Resource Officer.
— Reduction in supplies district wide.
— Utilization of additional $600,000 of Fund Balance totaling $1.2 million.
This level of fund balance usage will significantly affect the district’s overall fund balance moving forward, the district said.
For more information on the new budget, go to avcs.org/budget.
The new budget vote will be June 16.
POSSIBLE CONTINGENCY BUDGET
If the revised budget is not approved by voters, New York state law requires the district to adopt a contingency budget, which would result in a 0% tax levy increase.
The district said a contingency budget would include additional reductions in academic programs, student support services and athletics, including the elimination of all AuSable Valley athletics, along with further restrictions on district spending.
If the revised budget fails, additional reductions will occur in the contingency budget:
— One French teacher.
— One math teacher.
— One music teacher.
— One art teacher.
— One English teacher.
— Social worker reduction.
— Physical education reduction (loss of the athletic coordinator).
— Essex County Prevention.
— All AVCS athletics.