Brentwood UFSD proposes $688.5 million 2025–26 budget, 1% tax-levy increase and $39 million capital transfer for air conditioning

Brentwood Union Free School District officials presented the proposed 2025–26 budget of $688,525,221 at a special Board of Education meeting and formal budget hearing on May 8, saying the total represents a 14.13% increase from the prior year but would be supported by a 1% tax-levy increase.

The district’s presenter, Stacy O'Connor, said the budget’s increase is “a large increase, but we do have a large one-time increase” that drives much of the change. The district proposes a $39,000,000 interfund transfer to capital — described as a one-time expenditure to install air conditioning in large spaces (gyms, cafeterias, libraries) across multiple buildings and to renovate West and East Middle School auditoriums. Officials said the air-conditioning work would be a multiyear project likely staged over three summers (2026–2028) if the budget is approved.

The hearing outlined major revenue and expenditure items. O'Connor said 75% of the budget is expected to be covered by state aid, including a $43,000,000 increase in foundation aid; she said the district’s share of state aid includes a just-over $44,000,000 increase tied to changes in the foundation-aid calculation. BOCES aid was noted to increase by about $3,800,000. Building aid is expected to decline by $2,900,000 because the district has paid off older projects.

On the expenditure side, certificated salaries were listed as rising by about $20,000,000, and noncertified salaries by roughly $4,600,000, driven by contractual increases and added positions. O'Connor itemized planned staffing additions presented earlier in the budget process: psychologists, social workers, speech teachers, ABAs and a special-education dean in special services; restorative-justice coaches and high-dosage tutoring; expanded elementary art, music and library-media specialists; additional transportation and IT technicians, cybersecurity technicians, custodial and clerical positions; and enhancements to guidance services.

The presentation also listed planned facility and program work: library renovations at East and West middle schools, continued camera and security upgrades, a playground monitoring pilot, Wi‑Fi and wiring upgrades, cafeteria and bathroom renovations across multiple schools, replacement of aging ceiling tiles and lighting, a CTE culinary building with a commercial kitchen and classroom space, and new athletic and storage facilities.

Officials framed the $39,000,000 capital transfer as coming from reserve funds and said the proposed 1% levy would raise an estimated $1,100,000; the district said the allowable levy under the tax-cap formula would have permitted a larger increase (roughly $4,200,000), which district officials characterized as a savings to the community. Using available assessment assumptions, the presenter estimated the average homeowner (average assessed value stated as $35,000) could see roughly a $60 annual increase in school taxes under a 1% levy, but said precise homeowner impacts depend on final assessment data from towns, which the district receives later in the summer.

During public comment, several residents raised classroom-size and staffing concerns. Michelle Medrano, who identified herself as a parent, said, “My daughter is one out of 26 in general ed ... she does not like going to school now,” and urged hiring more elementary teachers. District staff responded that class-size targets vary by grade — the district reported caps roughly as: kindergarten 25, first grade 26, second grade 27–28, third grade in the high 20s, and fourth and fifth grades up to 30 — and that additional teacher assistants support reading and math blocks.

Officials reviewed contingency-budget rules if a proposed budget fails a second vote: the district would not be permitted to raise the levy above the current year’s level, would likely eliminate most equipment and capital projects (including the $39,000,000 air-conditioning plan), and would face other purchase and service restrictions. The district reminded voters that the budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at local elementary schools and directed residents to the district‑clerk web page for polling locations.

The board did not adopt the budget at the hearing; the presentation and public comments comprised the required budget hearing. If approved by voters at the May 20 vote (or a later revote), the district said the capital projects and staffing additions described would proceed per the timetable and funding described at the hearing.

The presentation and related slides will be posted to the district’s video and web pages; the district said meeting video including slides will be available online, while official minutes will be published later.