Prattsburgh, NY 2026 School Tax Increase -

  "A budget that grew less than 1% needs a 37.4% tax increase."

"For more than a decade, Prattsburgh school taxes barely moved. Now the district is asking residents to raise the local levy by roughly $1 million in a single year, eighteen times the entire eleven-year increase that came before it. The first attempt failed on May 19. The same budget is back on the ballot Tuesday, June 16, 2026, noon to 8 p.m., school cafetorium."

Source:  Joe Elward - Prattsburgh Budget Explainer-https://pcsfacts.org/#starthere

The "Prattsburgh Budget Explainer" website provides a link, enabling readers to calculate the personal cost impact of the tax increase on property owners.

This is the projected tax increase I am facing (according to this source), based on my own Steuben County property records listing at "Full Market Value."

https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=1299&LayerID=44487&PageTypeID=4&PageID=16762&Q=190967980&KeyValue=466000048.00-01-008.200

Last year

$882

at $8.81 per $1,000

If it passes

$1,222

+$341

If it fails (contingency)

$889

+$7

Based on this information (should this budget pass), I could expect another increase to my mortgage payment of about $40.00 per month, following a previous increase in School Tax and Property Insurance this past year (2025) of about $15.00 per month.

This is also occurring during increasing costs due to economic inflation, while a bridge replacement by Steuben County and major renovation of adjacent athletic fields continue on Route 74, (requiring a road closure and detour since March 30) - now with an extension of the bridge project and detour for another 4-6 weeks.

(Image Source: Town of Prattsburgh, NY)

A New York State DEC report from September 2024 alluded to the extent of the current construction activity:  (source listed below).

 "The project may include improvements to the existing baseball field and surrounding infrastructure, walkways, dug outs, score board, infield, and accessibility access. Proposed work at the Ag. Center & Athletic Fields includes the addition of a concession stand, septic system improvements, well improvements, storage, toilet rooms, improvements to existing structures and fences, roof replacement and additional crosswalk safety features.

 Work at the existing softball field includes improvements to existing dug outs, batting cage, and accessibility. The soccer field location will be adjusted and sod reestablished. The existing gravel parking lot will be paved. Exterior lighting may be added to athletic fields, new parking, and an additional street entrance/exit. A new baseball field facility may be created, including dugouts, batting cage, fencing, bleachers, and accessibility." 

The District previously solicited bids for "Capital Project 2025" with a March 12, 2026 deadline. The project was estimated to cost from $5,000,000 - $15,000,000. 

Another school tax levy increase is already being proposed for 2027-28.

(More to follow)

Other Sources:

https://www.weny.com/news/prattsburgh-residents-react-to-failed-proposed-school-budget/article_21c5106d-971e-43e1-aa9d-015bb942601f.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvbTqZkwb0U

https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2024-09-18/seqr/town-of-prattsburgh-prattsburgh-central-school-district-capital-improvements-2024

https://www.highergov.com/sl/contract-opportunity/ny-2716-043-prattsburgh-central-school-dist-62300128/

Angry Snapping Turtle on the "Swamp Road"

The previous night had been stormy, with heavy rain, lightning, and thunder until after 11 PM, when my old hound dog and I finally got to sleep.  The power went out about 3 AM.  We got up at 5 AM and made do until NYSEG arrived.  Crews were on my property and at the Underhill property across the road.  I do not know the cause of the outage, but power was restored by 7 AM.

Later that morning of June 10, 2026, at about 1130,  I went to town for a few essentials, taking the detour toward Rt 77 then to Rt 53 via Waldo Road (I call it the "Swamp Road").

I was returning home on Waldo Road when I came across a green pickup truck with a black bed cap stopped along the road and a woman using a cardboard box in an apparent attempt to carefully "wrangle" a large adult male snapping turtle from the center of the roadway between the two sides of the "swamp".

I stopped behind her vehicle to check it out. The woman explained she had observed two turtles (male and female), and that the female had crossed the road with the male following her. The male was a large (angry) adult with a smooth green shell of about 18" and a "yellowish" face and belly. (A very handsome turtle).

During a brief assessment of the situation, and considering the increased traffic at that time, I remembered that I still had a winter brush/ice-scraper on a telescopic pole in my truck.  I decided I would try to use it to help get the "snapper" off the road.

So I approached the turtle from its rear, with the "squeegee" portion on the road surface, and attempted to coax it to cross to the other side.  But the angry "snapper" turned and immediately began attacking (biting) the upturned brush portion of my tool.

I did not want to drag the angry turtle on its belly, which might cause it harm. But it violently attacked the brush, even rolling onto its own back a couple of times, then righted itself in the process. After the very brief struggle, the angry snapper was safely off the road.

The woman thanked me for helping her with the turtle, and we went our separate ways, leaving the hissing, angry, amphibious reptile from whence it had come, beside the road at the crossing of the swamp.