Hyde Park CSD board reviews adopted $125.9 million budget and asks voters to decide on diesel and electric bus purchases

The Hyde Park Central School District Board of Education reviewed its adopted 2025–26 budget and outlined two bus purchase propositions that will appear on the May 20 ballot.

The board’s adopted budget for 2025–26 is $125,900,000, a budget‑to‑budget increase of 4.13% (about $4.9 million). The district said it set the tax levy at 2%, below the state tax cap; the levy reduction was accomplished in part by appropriating fund balance rather than cutting programmatic expenses.

Why it matters: the budget funds instruction, support services and capital work across the district and includes two ballot propositions that, if approved by voters on May 20 at Haviland Middle School, would add buses now and accelerate the district’s conversion to zero‑emission vehicles required by state policy beginning July 1, 2027.

Superintendent Dr. Roman and district business staff explained revenue and spending drivers during the review. Dr. Roman said the district is “looking to preserve, and enhance our programs and services for our students” while being mindful of taxpayers. Linda Steinberg, who presented the revenue and expenditure details, said the district is using prior‑year fund balance to keep the tax…