Byram Hills board adopts $107.3 million 2025–26 budget; tax impacts vary by town

The Byram Hills Central School District Board of Education on April 22 adopted a $107,327,289 budget proposed for 2025–26 and approved the related property tax report card, the board voted during its regular meeting.

District staff said the adopted budget is a 3.73% increase from the 2024–25 budget and that the district would keep its tax levy increase to 2.43%. "We have our budget proposed for 2526 at $107,327,289. That's a 3.73% budget budget increase," said Kelly, a district staff member presenting the figures.

District finance staff told the board that 78–79% of spending is on salaries and benefits; 72.8% of the budget was described as going to program services, 15.1% to capital and 12.1% to administrative costs. Contractual services were listed at 13.5% of spending and debt service at 2.2%; supplies and equipment were 2.5%, maintenance projects 1.7% and vehicles 0.7%.

The presenters also described revenue sources. Real property taxes account for about 88% of the district's revenues, state aid about 4%, payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) for certain businesses about 2%, a legally permitted appropriation of up to 4% from fund balance, and other revenue about 2%. Kelly said the district expects a 2.43% increase in real property tax revenue, a 1.33% increase in state aid and an overall $3.8 million increase in revenues that together account for the 3.73% budget increase.

Board members and staff explained how that levy and assessed value changes translate to tax changes in the district's four towns. "North Castle comprises 81% of our homes. North Castle is anticipated to see a 20¢, 20 a point 2% decrease in taxes or $1.58 per $1,000 of assessed value as a decrease," Kelly said. The district presented estimated tax changes per $1,000 of assessed value for other towns: New Castle, an increase of $12.55; Bedford, an increase of $20.84; and Mount Pleasant, an increase of $169.56 per $1,000 of assessed value, figures the presenters said depend on changes in local assessed values.

Board members repeatedly noted that shifts in assessed values, not district policy, drive the local variation in tax bills. The district also said it anticipates continuing bus purchases as it prepares to electrify part of its fleet.

Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt the proposed 2025–26 budget and property tax report card — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). - Motion to adopt consent agenda items 6.1 (personnel), 7.1 (special services) and 8.1 (business) — moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). - Motion to adopt revisions to the agenda adding items 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 to executive session — moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). - Motion to adopt the Southern Westchester BOCES administrative budget and election of trustees for 2025–26 — moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). - Motion to approve minutes of the April 8 meeting — moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). - Motion to enter executive session to discuss labor negotiations, personnel and individual legal matters — moved and seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified).

Why it matters The board's adopted budget sets public-school spending and the tax levy the district will ask voters to approve. Staff emphasized that real property taxes supply the large majority of district revenue and that differences in assessed values across the four contributing towns will produce very different tax impacts for residents.

Looking ahead The district scheduled the public budget hearing for May 6 and the budget vote for May 20 at H.C. Crittenden Middle School. Staff encouraged residents with questions about how assessed values affect individual tax bills to contact the district after reviewing the budget materials.