East Ramapo interim superintendent presents 0% 2025–26 budget; cites about $16 million in new state aid and staffing shortfalls

Anthony DeCarlo, the interim superintendent of schools for the East Ramapo Central School District, presented the district’s proposed 2025–26 budget on Thursday and said the plan would keep the tax levy increase at 0% while using recent increases in state aid and corrected English‑learner coding to restore staffing and services.

DeCarlo said the district received “a wind full of money” from increased New York State foundation aid and that errors in coding English language learners had previously reduced state funding; together those factors produced about $16,000,000 in additional state aid. He described the budget as “0 based,” meaning staff started from identified needs rather than rolling prior-year spending forward.

The presentation emphasized staffing and student supports. “Schools are a people business. It's about teachers,” DeCarlo said, listing instructional coaches, teacher assistants, department chairs and other positions the district aims to restore. He said the district faces more than 240 vacancies and that transportation is a substantial line item; he told the audience the district transports “over 40,000 students a day.”

DeCarlo said district administrators worked with business office staff, specifically noting Assistant Superintendent for Business Mr. Stark and Mr. Daniel Shanahan on grants and funding, to move several positions and funding lines from grant accounts into the A Fund (the district’s general operating budget). DeCarlo said that shift is intended to protect services if federal grant funding—such as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies used during the COVID response—becomes unavailable.

He outlined other budget mechanics for 2025–26: the maximum allowable property tax levy under the district’s calculations is 3.15%, a cap the district is not approaching under the proposed plan; the district showed an expected increase of about $9,600,000 in expenditures in the following year’s projection; and Mr. Stark provided the board a 17‑page line‑by‑line explanation of budget lines that were previously unclear.

DeCarlo referenced the district’s recent financial history, including prior concerns about cash flow and payroll that prompted use of federal ARPA funds to stabilize operations. He said the current leadership team was not present last year and therefore would not speculate about decisions made previously, but stressed that the proposed 0% levy budget is intended to be “fiscally responsible” while restoring services and staff.

The superintendent described active recruitment efforts: job fairs across the Lower Hudson Valley, earlier postings and partnerships with local colleges and district high schools to attract new teachers, teacher aides, monitors and custodial staff. He said recommended hires will go through screening committees and board approval and then onboarding.

DeCarlo closed by encouraging the community to review department presentations posted by the district and said the Board of Education will take up further discussion at its April 8 meeting. “Let's not take it out on kids,” he said, urging public focus on students while the district addresses budget and staffing needs.