Petition to the Keystone Central School District Board of Directors: Reject the Tax Increase and Cut Wasteful Spending

To the Board of School Directors of the Keystone Central School District:

We, the undersigned residents, property owners, and taxpayers of the Keystone Central School District, hereby submit this formal notification to register our collective outrage and firm opposition to the board’s proposed 3.50% property tax increase for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Considering this levy represents the fourth such tax increment within a five-year period, this level of sustained fiscal disregard has generated a crisis of confidence and public displeasure so significant that it mandates the immediate reconsideration and reversal of this decision by the school board.

Rising inflation, escalating utility costs, and the general cost of living have already placed a massive financial burden on the families, working-class households, and senior citizens living on fixed incomes within our community. Forcing taxpayers to shoulder an additional financial burden to pay for debt the district carelessly continues to incur is unsustainable and unfair.

While we fully support high-quality education for our students, we firmly believe that funding shortfalls should not automatically be solved by dipping deeper into the pockets of local taxpayers. The reality persists that, given the significant debt obligations currently held by the district, $145 million, another tax increase historically provides no tangible benefit to the student body; rather, any additional revenue generated from such an increase has been and will be allocated exclusively toward funding higher salaries and enhanced benefit packages for personnel in the upcoming fiscal year. 

Why This Matters to Our Community

• Unprecedented Financial Strain: Many local families are already struggling to afford basic necessities. A tax hike risks driving families and seniors out of their homes.
• Diminishing Returns: Continually raising taxes without addressing the root causes of rising school district expenses is a short-term fix that creates long-term economic instability for our community.
• The Need for Fiscal Responsibility: As taxpayers, we must balance our household budgets based on what we can afford. We expect our elected school board to do the exact same with public funds

Our Demands
Therefore, we respectfully but urgently demand that the Keystone Central School Board take the following actions:

1. Vote NO on the Proposed Tax Increase: Reject any budget proposal that includes a property tax hike for the upcoming fiscal year.
2. Implement an Immediate Expense Freeze: Audit current expenditures and freeze non-essential spending, administrative overhead, and discretionary funding.
3. Identify Alternative Cost-Savings: Actively seek out ways to streamline operations, renegotiate vendor contracts, eliminate waste, and utilize existing reserve funds before asking taxpayers for more money.
4. Prioritize Classroom Funding: While prioritizing classroom funding, the district must consider and implement furloughs and consolidate teaching positions to reduce expenses.

Protect our families, balance the budget through fiscal responsibility, and say NO to higher taxes.

By signing, we certify that we are a resident, taxpayer, or property owner within the Keystone Central School District.