May 21, 2025
A message from Superintendent Rocco Migliori
Dear Westmoreland Community:
The Board or Education and I would like to once again express a huge thank you to the entire Westmoreland community for the continuous support that you show year in and year out for our schools. We continuously use your input to review our priorities as we attempt to provide the programs and services to our kids that you have become accustomed to seeing. The program reviews, new program development, budgeting, etc. is a 12-month, never ending process and your positive vote for our 2025-2026 school year budget proposal shows us that we’re making the decisions that you expect and that you are supportive of our path forward. Our challenge has been and will be for the near future to find ways to support and sustain these programs while receiving insufficient state aid. As we become more income and property rich in our community, we will continue to see less assistance from NYS in terms of state aid. One of our goals is to find ways to sustain what we have and continue to build for the future without overburdening our taxpayers. We believed that we found the right mix this year and 77% of voters agreed, so once again – Thank you for the vote of confidence!
As has been our custom the past few years, we conducted a survey of voters yesterday to collect data that will help us make budgetary and programmatic decisions as we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school budget year. Below you will see a narrative summary and data charts of those results.
Most participants were not in favor of making spending cuts to minimize tax increases, indicating a preference for tax increases to maintain programs and services.
Categories
Demographics: The survey included responses from a diverse group, including parents, alumni, senior citizens, students, and relatives of current students. Each group has different perspectives and priorities, which could influence their opinion on various issues related to spending and programs at Westmoreland CSD.
Spending cuts: Participants were given multiple options for potential areas where spending cuts could be made. The consensus was strong against making these cuts, with a significant majority preferring a tax increase instead of any spending reductions. This reflects a collective concern for maintaining quality and breadth of student services.
Tax Increases: There is notable support among participants for future tax increases to keep most of the current programs. Over three-quarters of participants indicated their willingness to accept tax increases to ensure continued support for programs and services they find valuable.
