This page provides links to current and past budget and tax information.
Voters approve budget and elect four to BOE
Central Valley School District voters went to polls on Tuesday, May 20, and approved the district’s proposed 2025-26 school budget. The budget passed with 81.7 percent in favor. Voters also elected Valerie Day, Melissa Paoni Shatraw, and Matt Darrow to three-year terms and Jason Sanchez to a one-year term to the Board of Education.
The $62,398,398 budget increases spending by 2.99 percent or $1,812,030 over the current year and results in a $298,866 increase in the tax levy.
The final count was:
Voters elected Valerie Day, Melissa Paoni Shatraw, and Matt Darrow to three-year terms and Jason Sanchez to a one-year term to the Board of Education. The final count for each candidate was:
- Valerie Day – 331
- Melissa Paoni Shatraw – 275
- Matt Darrow – 256
- Jason Sanchez – 248
- Martin Fisher – 169
- Miscellaneous write-in – 14
Below is the information provided to residents prior to the budget vote
Tackling fiscal challenges
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, residents of the Central Valley Central School District will go to the polls to vote on the district’s proposed $62,398,398 budget for the 2025-26 school year. The proposal would increase spending 2.99 percent or $1,812,030 from the current year. This would result in a $298,866 increase in the tax levy. The proposed levy is at the district’s tax levy limit and will require a simple majority for approval.
Budget highlights:
- A reduced share of the Herkimer BOCES capital project (-$300,000),
- Increased BOCES program costs ($500,000),
- Purchase of three new school buses ($435,000), and
- Normal year-to-year increases in salaries, benefits and materials ($1 million).
Why a tax levy increase?
“For the first time since the merger in 2013, we find ourselves facing serious budget challenges,” said Business Administrator Jim Humphrey.
“We used our merger incentive aid and our federal pandemic funds to maintain student opportunities and to insulate our taxpayers from increases. Knowing those funds would disappear, we saved as much as the state would allow. The goal was to plan for the future.”
Humphrey said there was one thing the district could not anticipate.
“The state helps fund schools based on enrollment. If our enrollment falls, our state aid falls. Our enrollment is down roughly 200 students, which translates into a loss of about $1.3 million in state aid.”
The loss of revenue combined with normal inflationary increases leaves the district with roughly a $2 million shortfall.
“Our first step is to use our savings and then we tighten our belts,” Humphrey said. “We are aligning our staffing numbers with our student numbers. As people retire, we will not fill those vacancies unless we need those positions to maintain our academic programs and support services.”
Budget includes state-funded project
The budget includes a $100,000 state-funded capital outlay project to replace the lighting fixtures at Barringer Road with high-efficiency LED lights. New York State provides school districts 98 percent aid to pay for smaller projects. These projects do not require separate voter approval.
Key numbers – 2025-26 budget
- Total spending—$62,398,398; up 2.99 percent percent or $1,812,030 compared to the current year
- Tax levy—$9,098,866; 3.40 percent increase
- Board of education election—five candidates are running for four seats. The three candidates receiving the most votes will be elected to three-year terms. The candidate receiving the fourth-most votes will be elected to a one-year term. Valerie Day, Jason Sanchez, Martin Fisher, Melissa Paoni Shatraw, and Matt Darrow are vying for the open seats.
Budget Hearing May 13
District Business Administrator Jim Humphrey will present the budget to the public at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 in the Central Valley Academy LGI.
Voting by Absentee/Early Ballot
There are four steps to voting by absentee or early ballot:
- Apply for an absentee/early ballot at the District Office, Weber Ave., Ilion, NY or by calling 315-894-9934.
- Return completed applications to District Clerk Stacey Gurtowski at the District Office:
- No later than 5 p.m. on Tue., May 13 to receive a ballot by mail or
- No later than 5 p.m. on Mon., May 19 to pick a ballot in person.
- Carefully complete your ballot according to the instructions, being certain the sign and seal the envelope.
- Completed ballots—whether mailed or delivered in person, must arrive at the District Office no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20.
Board of Education candidates
Five candidates are vying for four open seats. The three candidates receiving the most votes will be elected to three-year terms. The candidate receiving the fourth-most votes will be elected to a one-year term. Candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order:
- Valerie Day
- Jason Sanchez
- Martin Fisher
- Melissa Paoni Shatraw
- Matt Darrow
Required budget information
Required budget information online—New York State law requires that school districts post certain budget information online for the public to review. Below find PDFs of each required report. If you have any trouble accessing the information in the PDFs, please contact the district business office at 315-894-5000, press 6. Copies are also available from the district office.
Paying your tax bill
Early in September, Herkimer County prints and mails Central Valley CSD’s property tax bills. Taxes must be paid in full and are due no later than Oct. 1. Taxes paid after Oct. 1 are subject to a 2 percent fee. Taxes may be paid by mail or in person.
Cherri L Hyer
Central Valley CSD Receiver of Taxes
PO Box 160
Mohawk, NY 13407
66 E Main St, Mohawk, NY
9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
Phone: 315-866-0500
The office is closed Labor Day and Columbus Day.
More on the budget
from Superintendent Jeremy Rich
As we present this year’s school budget to the community, I want to take a moment to go deeper into the factors behind the proposed 3.40% tax levy increase.
We understand the need for fiscal responsibility. We strive to make financial decisions that protect our program—and our taxpayers. This is especially important during times of economic uncertainty. Despite our best attempts, however, declining revenues and increased expenses put us in a difficult spot.
More than 80 percent of our funding comes from state aid. The majority of that is Foundation Aid, an amount based on student enrollment and attendance. Central Valley saw roughly 200 students leave our district last year, meaning we will lose about $1.3 million in aid. To put that in perspective, we would need to raise the tax levy by 15 percent to make up for that loss.
At the same time, inflation is driving up the cost of everything. You know—you see your grocery and utility bills. Also, we are unsure about the future of federal funding for Pre-K and high-need programs.
Since the merger, each board of education has worked to keep tax increases below the state’s “tax cap.” If we had simply stayed at the cap, taxes would be 30 percent higher than they are today. We know our community and took steps to avoid placing that level of financial burden on our friends and neighbors.
But now, we find ourselves proposing a budget that includes a tax increase to sustain the programs and services our students rely on. As stewards of your resources, this is not something we do lightly.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions and thank you for your continued trust in our schools.
-Jeremy Rich, Superintendent
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