Budget and Finance

Public schools are among the most significant investments that any community makes collectively. District leaders work to make the most effective use of resources to benefit students, to develop and manage the budget in a responsible and transparent manner and to be accountable to taxpayers.

Each spring, the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District Board of Education adopts a proposed budget for the next school year that the community then votes upon.

2026-27 Budget Hearing

Monday, May 11
7 p.m.
J-D High School Large Group Room
and via YouTube.

2026-27 Budget Vote

Tuesday, May 19
8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
J-D High School Gymnasium

2026-27 Budget News and Materials

2026-27 Budget Development Calendar

The Board of Education approved the 2026-27 budget development calendar during a regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 8.

October

Various Dates: Budget Road Show presentations at all buildings

21: Finance Committee
27: Regular Board of Education Meeting

November

17: Regular Board of Education Meeting (Tecumseh Elementary)
18: Finance Committee

December

8: Regular Board of Education Meeting (J-D High School), approve budget calendar
16: Finance Committee

January

12: Regular Board of Education Meeting (TBD Foundation Aid Update)
20: Finance Committee
26: Regular Board of Education Meeting (Prelim. Revenues & Expenses – Budget Overview)

February

9: Regular Board of Education Meeting (Jamesville Elementary) (TBD State Aid
Update & Tax Levy Limit)

March

1: Tax Levy Limit due to OSC
4: Finance Committee
9: Regular Board of Education Meeting (Moses-DeWitt Elementary) (TBD State Aid, Update & Non-Instructional Budget)
17: Finance Committee
23: Regular Meeting (TBD State Aid Update & Instructional Budget, legal notice of budget vote and propositions – 45 days prior, April 3)

April

3: First legal notice published
6: Regular Board of Education Meeting (J-D Middle School) (TBD State Aid Update)
15: Finance Committee, all items finalized for annual vote
20: Regular Board of Education Meeting (3-Part Budget, adopt Jamesville-DeWitt CSD & OCM BOCES Admin Budget & Property Tax Report Card, nominations petitions due April 20, 2026)
20-May: absentee/early ballots mailed for requests received
24: Final date to adopt the property tax report card by the board, distribute military ballots
27: Property Tax Report Card due to State Education Department

May

4: Budget Statement and attachments made publicly available, budget newsletter distributed
11: Budget Hearing & Regular Meeting
12: Mail Budget Notice to district residents
19: Budget Vote & Annual Election

June

1: Regular Meeting (Certify Budget Vote & Election results)
15: Regular Board of Education Meeting

Early, Absentee, and Military Ballots

All qualified Jamesville-DeWitt voters are eligible to vote with a mail-in ballot. Applications are needed for early, absentee, and military ballots.

Early Voting Ballots

All qualified district residents are eligible to vote early with a mail-in ballot for any reason.

Absentee Ballots

Voters must complete an absentee application and state the reason they will not be able to appear in person on the day of the district election/vote. An absentee ballot can be used if:

- The voter is absent from the county on Election Day.
- The voter is a patient in a hospital, or unable to appear personally at the polling place on that day because of illness or physical disability, or duties related to the primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
- The voter is in detention in jail/prison, is awaiting trial, awaiting action by a grand jury, or awaiting trial or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other than a felony and stating the place where the applicant is detained or confined.

If you are registered as a permanently disabled absentee voter with the Onondaga County Board of Elections, an absentee ballot will automatically be provided to you.

Completed Early/Absentee Applications

Completed early and absentee applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days (May 12) before the election/vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election/vote (May 19) if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter.

Completed ballots must be received by the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote, May 19. A secured drop-off box is located outside the district office at J-D High School. The District Clerk cannot accept ballot applications until 30 days prior to the budget vote and board election (April 19).

For more information or to get an early, absentee, or military application, contact District Clerk Tish Hauser at thauser@jd.cnyric.org or 315-445-8304. You can also visit the district office at 6845 Edinger Drive, DeWitt, NY.

Military Ballots

Members of the United States Armed Forces may request an application for a military ballot to vote in the upcoming budget and board of education election on May 19.

In 2019, New York state implemented a law giving members of the military the opportunity to cast their ballots for the election of members of the board of education, and the adoption of the annual budget, school district public library budget and referenda. This also applies to spouses and dependents of members of the military.

Ballots for military voters shall be mailed, or otherwise distributed, no later than Friday, April 24.

Your School Budget in Action

The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District uses the annual budget to provide students with a rich curriculum, unique learning opportunities, and critical support services. It also helps employ dedicated staff, maintain buildings/equipment, and more.

Curriculum/Support Services

Courses encourage students to become problem solvers and change creators! Senior Brian Tollar credits classes at J-D Middle School and J-D High School with helping him hone his engineering skills and make a difference.

Instructional/Non-Instructional Budget

A considerable portion of school budgets help employ the district’s dedicated team in and out of the classroom. Non-Instructional staff like bus drivers and attendants make a significant difference in the daily lives of our students. Meet a bus driver who has spent the last decade safely transporting Red Rams of all ages!

Learning Opportunities

Extracurricular activities give students the opportunity to embrace interests and grow. The J-D Middle School Times Newspaper is helping students strengthen their social, writing, and editing skills.

School Budgets in 60 Seconds

Watch the video below for a quick overview of how school budgets are developed in New York

STAR Program

Homeowners who meet certain eligibility requirements through the New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR) can have a portion of their home’s assessed value exempt from school property taxes. Learn more about the STAR program.

Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage

Form 1095-C will no longer be distributed automatically to district employees or retirees and must be requested annually. For more information and to request Form 1095-C, please click on this link to the OCM BOCES website.