Residents in the Chenango Forks and Chenango Valley school districts are preparing for a test vote on the idea of merging the two districts and some residents in at least one of those districts may be having cause for more reservations.

The final school board meeting in Chenango Forks ahead of the December 3rd straw vote was held November 14.

During the session, Broome-Tioga BOCES Central Business Office representative, Kathy Blackman, handed the board projected financial scenarios, spanning four years, but could not produce a lot of specifics concerning amounts of New York State aid in the long-term or projected deficit numbers.

Blackman said, however, that in almost every scenario, the Forks would be building up to a significant structural deficit of an estimated $2.5 million at the end of the four years.

If the merger proposal survives the straw vote, a final, binding referendum would be placed before voters in both district early next year.

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