Owego Free Academy

Dear Owego Apalachin CSD Resident,

We want to share some important information regarding how our district’s budget will look on paper for the 2026–27 school year.

For several years, the Stagecoach Pipeline (formerly CNYOG) has been our largest taxpayer under a special agreement called a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes). This agreement ended in March.

What Is Changing?
By law, once the PILOT agreement ends, Stagecoach Pipeline will no longer be listed under "Miscellaneous Revenue." Instead, they will move onto the regular property tax rolls just like any other local business or homeowner.

Why This Matters for the Tax Report Card
Because of this shift in how we are required to account for the money, you will notice a significant change on the upcoming Property Tax Report Card that you will receive in the mail and in our Budget Newsletter:

The Appearance: It will look like there is a 17.10% increase in the district’s tax levy.

The Reality: This is strictly an accounting change. The "increase" you see is actually the $3,183,700 payment from Stagecoach Pipeline moving from one category to another.

The important thing to emphasize here is that change is primarily an accounting and tax base adjustment and is not, by itself, a new increase in district spending. The increase shown in the tax levy is fully offset by the taxes Stagecoach Pipeline is now paying through the regular tax roll. The difference will only be seen in how it is reported.

If the PILOT was not coming back onto the tax rolls this year, the district’s tax levy would once again be 0% for the fourth time in the last six years. The district’s average tax levy change over the past 5 years has been 0.80%, and over the past 10 years, 1.14%.

Property taxes and local funding mechanisms are essential for supporting education, public safety, and infrastructure in Tioga County.

View a PDF version of the letter here: https://aptg.co/5lSztP. The full letter includes additional information from the Tioga County Real Property Office. The full letter will also be arriving in your mailbox soon.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and for taking the time to stay informed about this unique budgeting requirement. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions as we move through this year’s budget process.

#OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OACommunity

OACSD would like to recognize the #OFAClassOf2026! Show your love & support by sharing & liking these posts. This spotlight shines on Nychole Philpott.

OFA 2026 Seniors can submit their spotlight information here: https://forms.gle/5FBCExnt5fPJn1uC7.

#OFARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition #OwegoFreeAcademy #ClassOf2026 #OwegoNY #ApalachinNY #ThisIsOA

With the 2026-2027 budget season upon us, we want to provide opportunities for the entire school community to stay informed, not only about the school budget, but also about the significant change in our district’s tax base as the Stagecoach Pipeline & Storage Company LLC (formerly CNYOG) Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement has expired.

As information about the budget is reported and shared across various platforms, we encourage the school community to review information shared directly by the school district and reach out with any questions. You will receive several direct mailings, including the Budget Newsletter, over the next few weeks.

Residents will notice a unique figure on this year’s Property Tax Report Card: an apparent 17.10% increase in the district’s tax levy. It is important to note that this is strictly an accounting change, not a tax increase.

The Change: By law, Stagecoach Pipeline has moved from "Miscellaneous Revenue" to the regular property tax rolls, just like any local homeowner.

The Impact: The $3,183,700 payment is now categorized under the "Tax Levy."

The Reality: Because this $3.18 million increase in the levy is fully offset by Stagecoach now paying regular property taxes, there is no new tax burden on the community. Review the following information from Tioga County Real Property Tax Services:

Understanding PILOT's and School District Tax Levies - https://aptg.co/P5y6t5
PILOT's & Your Property Taxes Graphic - https://aptg.co/MZ6lHP
Understanding Property Taxes in Tioga County - https://aptg.co/grvD9f

Budget At A Glance:
Proposed 2026-2027 annual budget: $63,567,555.
Bus Bond Proposition for 5 new diesel school buses.
Board of Education Election for 3 open seats.

Upcoming Budget Calendar & Deadlines
We invite you to join us for our upcoming public hearing:

May 11th: School Budget Public Hearing - OA District Office: 6 pm
Livestream - https://www.youtube.com/live/7kBlbQTE4Ec

Voting Information
Budget Vote & BOE Election: May 19, 2026 (Noon – 8:00 PM)
Locations: Apalachin Elementary or OACSD District Office (based on residency).
Eligibility: Must be 18+, a U.S. citizen, and a resident for at least 30 days. You do not need to be registered with the Board of Elections, but you must show a valid photo identification.
Absentee Ballots: Contact the District Clerk at (607) 687-6215 or email vote@oacsd.org. Ballots must be received by 5:00 PM on May 19.

For more details, please visit our Budget Information Page - https://www.oacsd.org/page/school-budget-information or reach out via Let’s Talk! - https://www.oacsd.org/page/lets-talk.

#OARiverHawks #sOArTogether #OACommunity #OAPride #OATradition