District Finances

Budget Overview

On May 20, 2025, Gouverneur residents will vote on the proposed $47,840,977 budget for the 2025-26 school year. The proposal carries a 2.02% increase to the tax levy, which is at the levy limit. The proposed budget supports the following long-term district goals:

• Bringing consistency to curriculum decisions across grade levels and providing appropriate professional development to support curriculum.
• Providing social-emotional support and academic opportunities to ensure all students are engaged and successful.
• Ensuring a continuum of special education services district-wide to support all students.

Budget addresses district priorities The proposed budget aligns our budgetary decisions with our vision to deliver the promise of a brighter future for our students and our community. This budget also continues to incorporate some of the positions that have been created using federal funding to support our students both academically and socially. The 2025-26 budget will include:
District-wide

• Professional development for board certified behavioral analysts
• Social-emotional initiatives
• Summer camps
• Instructional support specialist
• School psychology intern
• Girls wrestling
• Indoor track assistant coach
• Three-year contract with First Student for Student Transportation Services

Gouverneur Elementary School

• Calming room/in-school suspension
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) support
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Gouverneur Middle School

• Planning for alternative education programming
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) support
• $320,000 Capital Outlay Project for playground improvement work

Gouverneur High School

• Robust in-house summer school
• In-house Spanish instruction
• Planning for alternative education programming

The proposed budget focuses on preserving the strong educational programming, safe and secure environments, and extracurricular activities that our community has supported over the years.

In preparation for the New York State mandated shift to the use of electric vehicles and the district’s need to be prepared for that shift, the proposed budget includes the purchase of four new diesel-powered buses and one new gasoline powered Suburban. The budget also includes two fully grant-funded electric-powered vehicles. This will allow the district to determine the feasibility of using electric vehicles in a district of our size and terrain.

*One-time expenses include: $1,000,000 funding repair reserve with unassigned fund balance; $900,000 transfer from debt service fund to reduce borrowing; $852,500 for two electric buses pending receipt of federal grant; $30,000 cell phone free environment funded by NYS.