Spring 2026
The Groton Central School District, in partnership with our families and community, remains steadfast in our mission to empower all students to reach their fullest potential and thrive in an ever-changing world. The District and the Board of Education have spent the past several months working to put forth a budget that is both logically sound and deeply connected to our shared values. By grounding our decisions in data and aligning them with our commitment to ensuring the success of each individual student, we are making sure that our financial planning gives our students, as Groton Red Hawks, the steady ground they need to really let their creativity and new ideas take flight. This collaborative effort is strengthened by a Board of Education whose financial acumen and experience provide invaluable support to the Business Office and my own role as Superintendent.
Our total spending obligation for the 2026-27 school year is proposed at $26,350,734, representing a 3.35% increase from the previous year. This budget is designed to protect student opportunities, as instructional programs continue to make up the lion's share of our expenses at 72.2%. While we strive for efficiency, we must also account for the reality that all students deserve a safe, secure, and nurturing environment , which requires consistent investment in our staff and facilities to ensure no exceptions are made when it comes to prioritizing our youth.
The shifting landscape of state funding has placed a unique challenge before us. Historically, State Aid supported over 62% of our budget, but that figure has been on the decline for the past several years, and is now only 57.9% for the upcoming year. This downward trend means that the broader state-wide assistance we once relied on is tapering off, leaving a void that must be managed locally to protect our academic standards. Essentially, the Groton community is being asked to shoulder a greater portion of the financial burden that was once more robustly supported by the state. Consequently, this proposal includes a 2.99% tax levy increase, which, for a home valued at $175,000, results in an estimated $62.00 annual increase in school taxes. This budget enables us to continue to offer present academic and extracurricular programming while also taking into account how best to utilize our resources where we see the greatest need. We recognize that asking the Groton community to shoulder a greater portion of this financial burden is significant, and we do not make this request lightly.
Ultimately, this budget is a reflection of our core belief that all students can learn and grow. The board of education and district continue to build budget proposals that utilize long range forecasting in an effort to ensure that even as the state-wide landscape shifts, the quality of a Groton education remains strong. We thank you for your continued support of our district and look forward to seeing you on May 19th, 2026, when voting will be held in the District Office from 12-9pm.