Yorktown CSD outlines tentative 2025–26 operating budget; insurance, benefits and transportation drive increases

Assistant Superintendent for Business Lisa Sanfilippo presented the Yorktown Central School District’s preliminary 2025–26 budget components for general support, facilities and operations and maintenance, employee benefits and transportation during the Jan. 27 board meeting. The numbers are early estimates and the board will adopt a final budget in April.

The presentation matters because the figures set the district’s operating baseline, affect staffing and services, and help determine the tax levy proposed to voters. Sanfilippo said the district will hold further budget presentations on Feb. 10, March 3 and March 24 before adopting the budget on April 21 and sending it to the public hearing on May 12; the budget vote is scheduled for May 20.

Sanfilippo told the board the general support category—which covers central administration, auditing and legal services, human resources, communications and board-related costs—shows a tentative increase of about $118,000 (roughly 3.1 percent). She identified several drivers: salary adjustments for 63 non‑represented district employees, a budgeted increase in property and liability insurance premiums and mandatory administrative and capital charges from Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES. Sanfilippo said those BOCES charges are mandatory for component districts and not discretionary.

On facilities and operations and maintenance (O&M), Sanfilippo said district buildings total more than 600,000 square feet on over 100 acres and O&M staffing represents 47.4 full‑time equivalents. The preliminary O&M budget is about $135,000 lower than the prior year, largely because a one‑time FlexPath buildout included in last year’s budget is not needed for 2025–26. She said salaries account for about 57 percent of the O&M budget and utilities about 20 percent; the district is budgeting increases for equipment, electricity and supplies even while overall O&M declines.

Sanfilippo discussed several completed projects—installation of blue light strobes integrated into the security system, a build‑out of pupil personnel services space at the French Hill building and parking work at the high school—and said the district is still assessing potential capital transfers for HVAC replacements and additional parking modifications.

On employee benefits, Sanfilippo said New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) costs are estimated to rise from about 14.4 percent to roughly 16.2 percent, while Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) contributions are projected to fall from the current 10.11 percent to somewhere between about 9.5 percent and 10 percent. She reported a projected increase in health insurance premiums of approximately 3.9 percent and said Social Security taxable wage base increases will raise district costs; workers’ compensation rates are projected to decline by about 3.2 percent based on recent loss experience.

Transportation serves more than 3,000 students daily, Sanfilippo said, using a fleet of 67 vehicles with most vehicles completing two to three tiers per day. The district uses routing software and said that effort allowed it to reduce about four vehicles this year and realize an initial estimate of $400,000 in savings. The transportation contract proposed for next year reflects a roughly 9.5 percent rate increase; Sanfilippo said the net home‑to‑school transportation increase in the preliminary budget is about $144,000 after accounting for recognized savings.

Board members pressed staff on multiple specifics. Board member Peter asked whether the O&M salary reduction meant positions were eliminated; Sanfilippo replied the district replaced retirees but hired new employees at lower salary steps and also adjusted overtime. When Peter asked whether maintenance cuts reflected deferred preventative work, Sanfilippo said the largest single reduction was the one‑time FlexPath expense (about $100,000) and that the district continues to invest in building and grounds upkeep.

Board members asked about other items in the presentation: a traffic study recommendation to add a bus loop at the middle/high school to improve queuing (Sanfilippo said that recommendation is under consideration); revenue from leased space at French Hill, including UPK and YMCA administrative offices (both lease space and generate revenue); and the district’s readiness for state heat‑relief legislation. On the latter, Sanfilippo described the state proposal’s thresholds—an 82‑degree trigger for a mitigation plan and an 88‑degree threshold requiring classroom relocation—and said Yorktown’s prior phased investments in window units and larger‑space HVAC mean “the vast majority of our instructional spaces are air conditioned.” She said only a small number of spaces remain non‑air‑conditioned and staff expect to address those with window or mini‑split units out of operating or other funds rather than a capital project.

Responding to a question from board member Jackie about LEDs and electricity use, Sanfilippo said the district has tracked kilowatt hours and usage has remained relatively consistent despite increased electrical demand from added air conditioning and devices; she credited LED upgrades and other efficiency measures—including conversion of Charlie Murphy field lights to LEDs—for helping contain costs.

Superintendent Ron Hatter reiterated schedule details for the budget calendar and encouraged early kindergarten and UPK registration, noting preliminary state aid proposals suggest UPK may continue at comparable levels for 2025–26. Transportation deadlines for out‑of‑district or daycare requests were noted as April 1, with limited exceptions.

Next steps: staff will continue refining assumptions, review the governor’s state aid proposal and present updated figures at upcoming board meetings ahead of adoption in April.