East Ramapo holds public hearing on proposed 2025–26 budget, board urges May 20 vote

Interim Superintendent John DiCarlo told the East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education at a public hearing that the proposed 2025–26 budget keeps the tax levy at 0% while restoring positions cut over the last decade and including $5,200,000 for building and site repairs.

The hearing matters because the May 20 budget vote will determine whether the district can move forward with staffing restorations, curriculum and athletics enhancements, and repairs officials say are needed for parking lots, sidewalks and catch basins.

DiCarlo said the district has been presenting the budget “through a number of meetings” and described priorities that include “our commitment to student success, social, emotionally, academically.” He told the board the budget is intended to be sustainable. “This budget is a at a 0% tax levy,” he said during the presentation.

Members of the public used the hearing to press the board for passage. A resident who spoke during public comment urged the community to end “a decade of not passing the budget,” telling the board that the district needs more teachers, social workers and repairs and saying, “It’s a catastrophe.” Another speaker who identified themself as a student said school meals “provide the essential nutrients we need,” but urged improvements in quality and more eco‑friendly packaging.

Board officials outlined what happens if voters reject the proposal. “In the event that the budget vote does not pass, the board has 2 options. 1 option is to go directly to [a] contingent budget, and the second is to have a revote,” said Mr. Stark, who was available to answer budget questions. He said a revote date would be set in June if needed.

The hearing also included descriptions of planned summer programs and staffing: DiCarlo said some summer programs already were full — including an all‑sports program and a computer‑science offering — and that credit‑recovery and high‑school secondary schedules would be finalized after Regents and AP exams conclude.

Board business at the same meeting included routine approvals: the board adopted the consent agenda and an action items block covering items 1 through 24. The board amended one item to appoint Vice President Sherry McGill as the election chairperson and approved the change.

What happens next: the board will present the budget to voters on May 20. District officials urged turnout and said they will continue outreach, including radio appearances and church visits, to explain the proposal.