Mount Sinai district presents $70.7 million proposed budget; three propositions set for May 20 vote

The Board of Education heard the district’s proposed 2025–26 budget: $70,732,128, an increase over last year’s $68,805,007.78 and presented as a 2.8% budget‑to‑budget change. The district staff said the proposed tax‑levy increase is 3.95.

Superintendent (presentation) summarized the revenue and spending overview presented to the board: the district anticipates roughly $20 million in state aid and other revenue, will use $2.3 million from the appropriated fund balance, and plans a tax levy of about $48 million within the tax cap. The superintendent listed major spending lines (rounded as presented): salaries rising from about $36 million to just over $37 million; employee benefits around $15 million to $15.4 million; debt service increasing from $1.17 million to $1.385 million; and several categorical changes in central services, curriculum, pupil services and transportation. The superintendent said the district did not receive an increase in foundation/state aid in the most recent state numbers used for planning.

Officials noted the district’s contingency if voters reject the budget: the tax levy would be set at the prior year’s amount under a contingent budget, and the overall contingency total cited was approximately $1.8 million in cuts. The superintendent listed services that could be reduced under a contingent budget, including non‑mandated high‑school electives (home and career, business), staff development, equipment purchases, classroom supplies, extracurricular support and the pre‑K program.

Capital and library propositions: the board was told there will be three propositions on the May 20 ballot:

- Proposition 1: the proposed budget, $70,732,128 (vote May 20). - Proposition 2: a library proposition, $1,900,000. - Proposition 3: a $2,000,000 elementary capital project proposed to be funded from the district’s existing capital reserve; presenters said that use of the capital reserve will not raise property taxes. The capital work was described as interior and exterior improvements to a rear wing of the elementary school including walls, windows, roofing, mechanical and electrical systems, plus HVAC and gym upgrades.

Voting logistics: district officials said the budget vote will be held Tuesday, May 20, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the location was stated as the high school gym. Absentee ballots are available through the district clerk.

Budget context and state aid: the superintendent explained that state aid numbers have been updated periodically and the final state aid calculation will not be available until May; the district used conservative assumptions in planning. The presentation referenced student‑placement and out‑of‑district special‑education transportation savings that reduced transportation costs because fewer students required out‑of‑district placements.

Votes at a glance: during the meeting the board approved routine items by motion. Recorded motions and formal board approvals during this session included acceptance of minutes and approval of personnel and action items (motions listed as “resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent”); the transcript records seconds and an affirmative voice vote without a roll‑call tally for each motion.

Votes recorded in the transcript (as presented to the board):

- Accept minutes of the 04/23/2025 regular meeting as submitted. Mover: not specified; Second: Chuck; Outcome: approved. (Motion text read by the superintendent.)

- Approve personnel items a–c. Mover: not specified; Second: Anthony; Outcome: approved. (Motion resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent.)

- Approve educational action items (item a). Mover: not specified; Second: Nick; Outcome: approved.

- Approve business action items a–j. Mover: not specified; Second: Chuck; Outcome: approved.

The transcript does not include recorded roll‑call tallies or dissenting votes for these motions; the board chair asked “All in favor?” and the clerk recorded “Motion passes.” The motions were presented “upon the recommendation of the superintendent,” and full lists of the a–j items were referenced but not read aloud in full during the excerpt.

PERSONS

- Dr. Christiani, Superintendent (government) - Nick (Board member, not fully identified in transcript) (government) - Chuck (Board member, not fully identified) (government) - Anthony (Board member, not fully identified) (government)

AUTHORITIES

- type: policy; name/description: State school funding and Universal Pre‑K program rules (referenced); referenced_by: ["proposed-2025-26-budget-capital-and-library-propositions-vote-info"]

CLARIFYING_DETAILS

- {"category":"proposed_budget_total","detail":"Proposed budget total presented to board","value":70732128,"units":"USD","approximate":false} - {"category":"previous_budget_total","detail":"Prior year budget cited","value":68805007.78,"units":"USD","approximate":false} - {"category":"budget_increase","detail":"Dollar increase reported","value":1900000,"units":"USD","approximate":true} - {"category":"tax_levy_increase","detail":"Proposed tax levy increase","value":3.95,"units":"percent","approximate":false} - {"category":"state_aid","detail":"State aid projection used in planning","value":20000000,"units":"USD","approximate":true} - {"category":"appropriated_fund_balance","detail":"Planned appropriation from fund balance","value":2300000,"units":"USD","approximate":false} - {"category":"capital_proposition","detail":"Elementary capital project from capital reserve; stated not to raise taxes","value":2000000,"units":"USD","approximate":false}

COMMUNITY_RELEVANCE

- geographies:["Mount Sinai Union Free School District"], - funding_sources:["state aid","appropriated fund balance","tax levy"], - impact_groups:["property taxpayers","K-12 students","special education students"]

MEETING_CONTEXT

- engagement_level: {"speakers_count":4,"duration_minutes":45,"items_count":3}, - implementation_risk: "medium", - history: [{"date":"not specified","note":"Budget hearing and vote are part of annual budget cycle; board discussed contingency implications if budget fails."}]

SEARCHABLE_TAGS:["budget","tax levy","capital project","library proposition","budget vote","May 20"]

PROVENANCE

- {"block_id":"block_79","local_start":0,"local_end":240,"evidence_excerpt":"So as a reminder, our proposed budget is $70,732,128... The percentage budget to budget is 2.8%, and our tax levy increase is proposed at 3.95%...","global_start":2402000,"global_end":2451529,"tc_start":"00:40:02","tc_end":"00:40:50","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"block_98","local_start":0,"local_end":220,"evidence_excerpt":"So that that is just what would have to be done. Capital projects that we are proposing for the budget vote are for the elementary school... This proposal will not cause any increase in property tax. So we will have 3 propositions next week, the budget... the capital project...","global_start":2712000,"global_end":2796210,"tc_start":"00:45:12","tc_end":"00:46:36","reason_code":"topicfinish"}