Cattaraugus County schools share $10 million state aid hike

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

Cattaraugus County school districts will share in $267.8 million in state aid in the 2025-2026 state budget, a $10 million increase. There was an 8.1% countywide increase in foundation aid to $179.8 million.

The state budget passed last Thursday includes a $1.7 billion increase in state aid to education to $36.9 million, according to state Education Department aid runs.

The Olean City School District received a total of $38.4 million, an increase of $2.3 million or 6.57%. It’s $2 million increase in foundation aid to $27.6 million is a 7.8% increase.

The Salamanca Central School District will get a $1.8 million foundation aid hike to $23.2 million, an 8.6% increase. The total budget was up $2.6 million or 7.8% to $36.3 million.

Two of the 12 school districts — Allegany-Limestone and West Valley — showed a drop in total aid, 0.34% and 1 percent respectively. Both showed a 2% “hold harmless” increase in their change in foundation aid, however.

Allegany-Limestone showed a $259,877 increase in foundation aid, while Randolph’s went up $214,995.

Other districts total aid increased from a low of 0.85% in Randolph to a high of 7.8% in Salamanca.

There were 2% foundation aid increases in half of the districts which ranged from a low of $73,376 in West Valley to a high of $669,153 in the Pioneer Central School District. West Valley’s foundation aid totals $3.7 million, while Pioneer’s is $31.4 million.

School districts with the total budget and percent increase follow:

Allegany-Limestone — $21.1 million, down $73,125, or 0.34%.

Cattaraugus-Little Valley — $23.6 million, up $864,588, or 3.8%.

Ellicottville — $5.5 million, up $167.089, or 3.11%.

Franklinville — $17.3 million, up $944,652, or 5.76%.

Gowanda — $27.6 million, up $867,059, or 3.24%.

Hinsdale — $8.8 million, up $389,642, or 4.62%.

Olean — $38.4 million, up $2,371,741, or 6.57%.

Pioneer — $49.3 million, up $1,258,411, or 2.62%.

Portville — $18.7 million, up $495,902, or 2.73%

Randolph — $15.3 million, up $130,221, or 0.85%

Salamanca — $36.3 million, up $2,637,355, or 7.83%