Voters in the Ogdensburg City School District approved the 2026-27 budget on Tuesday, June 16 by a vote of 900 to 615. District officials expressed appreciation to residents who turned out to vote and to those who attended information sessions and Board of Education meetings in recent weeks to better understand the district’s financial position.
The $58,228,386 carries a 3.81% spending increase and a 3.99% tax levy increase. The proposal was first rejected on May 19 by a margin of 301-329.
The approved plan includes the district’s elementary reconfiguration, which will shift UPK-1 students to Grant C. Madill Elementary and grades 2-6 to John F. Kennedy Elementary, with Ogdensburg Free Academy continuing to serve grades 7-12. The restructuring is designed to align staffing and resources with enrollment and reduce long-term costs. More information is available in the district’s elementary reorganization overview.
“We appreciate the community’s engagement throughout this process,” said superintendent Kevin Kendall. “Residents asked questions, attended meetings, and took the time to understand the financial pressures created by insufficient state aid funding and rising operational costs. This budget allows us to maintain essential programs and continue providing strong learning opportunities for all students.”
Voters also approved the transportation proposition authorizing the purchase of 13 gas-powered buses at a cost not to exceed $2,521,504. The vehicles qualify for up to 85% State Aid reimbursement, and many of the district’s current vehicles are no longer under warranty. The proposition passed by a vote of 897 to 611.