Board reviews draft 2025–26 budget; tax-cap calculation shows ~2.43% maximum levy increase

Mr. Jerome, presenting the district’s third budget update, told the board the preliminary 2025–26 budget the district is developing would require revenues and expenditures to balance at roughly $126.6 million under the scenario shown that evening.

Jerome said the draft tax-cap calculation — filed as a draft to New York State — would allow a maximum tax-levy increase of about 2.43%, or roughly $1.7 million, before the board would need a supermajority action; he noted the district has not yet set a recommendation for the actual levy. Jerome told the board the budget-to-budget increase in the scenario shown would be about $5.6 million (4.68%). He said the district is still awaiting the New York State legislative budget (expected by April 1) and final health-insurance rates from the Dutchess Educational Health Insurance Consortium (DHEC), both of which affect the final numbers.

Key revenue and expenditure drivers: The presenters said regular foundation and categorical state aid in the governor’s proposal would total approximately $41.6 million, with an additional roughly $4.5 million in building and transportation aid. Jerome said the district expects to use about $640,000 in debt-service funds planned as part of a capital project strategy and estimated a fund-balance appropriation of about $3.5 million under the scenario presented.

Staffing and program recommendations: Budget staff and administrators summarized administrator requests and their recommended handling: - One full-time ENL (English as a New Language) teacher was recommended for inclusion in the 2025–26 general fund budget (cost with benefits cited at $112,379). This aligns with the multilingual learners presentation earlier in the meeting. - Two LPN (licensed practical nurse) positions were recommended for approval but funded through the Stronger Connections grant rather than general fund budgets; staff explained LPN support had been increased after reviewing in-year health-office visit data. - A half-time groundskeeper vacancy recommended to be converted to full-time to provide later-evening field coverage (cost shown at $44,346) was included in the recommendation. - The district proposed creating 12 MTSS/PBIS stipends (new positions) to staff multi-tiered academic and behavioral systems; those stipends would be evaluated and tied to defined roles and data-monitoring responsibilities. - The microcomputer technician vacancy would be eliminated from the general-fund position list and replaced with building-level stipends; staff said this would better match current needs and provide cost savings.

Non-salary items and purchases: Administrators recommended purchasing several items in the current year from unspent equipment funds rather than adding them to next year’s budget: wrestling mats, a gym scoreboard and 17 digital pianos for the music department. Transportation routing software purchased through BOCES was presented as a cost-saving measure.

Board discussion and next steps: Board members asked for clarifications about stipend eligibility, the role of assistant principals in MTSS work and whether certain positions had previously been held but left unfilled; staff said many recommendations are made possible through attrition and grants and that several new roles would be evaluated annually for return on investment. Jerome and budget staff requested more final state and insurance figures before returning with a recommended tax levy amount.

Ending: The board took no final budget vote that night; staff will bring updated numbers after state aid and DHEC health-rate decisions are finalized and before the April filing deadlines.