Byram Hills presents 3.73% proposed budget increase; hearings set ahead of May 20 vote

BYRAM HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — District staff presented a proposed 3.73% budget increase for 2025–26, describing a $3.8 million budget-to-budget increase and planned use of reserves to balance the spending plan.

The proposal, delivered during the board's April 8 meeting, shows the district relying on local property taxes for the bulk of revenue and planning multiple upcoming hearings before a districtwide vote. Kelly, speaking for district staff, said the district's maximum tax levy for next year is 2.43% and that the presentation reflects a proposed 3.73% increase, or roughly $3,800,000, from this year to next.

District officials said revenue composition and expenditures matter because most revenue comes from local property taxes and salaries and benefits account for the largest share of spending. In the presentation staff said about 88% of revenue comes from local property taxes, with approximately 4% from state aid, 2% from payments in lieu of taxes, 4% from fund balance and 2% from other revenues. On the expenditure side, staff presented that roughly 79.4% of costs are salary and benefits, 13.5% contractual services, 2.2% debt service, 2.5% supplies, 1.7% planned maintenance projects and 0.7% vehicle replacement.

Nut graf: Why this matters — The proposal affects local property taxpayers and uses significant reserve funds to balance the budget. Kelly said the plan includes a $5,500,000 use of fund balance and reserves to close the gap for next year and staff emphasized that relying on reserves is not a long-term preference.

Inverted-pyramid details — Staff described components of the budget as program, capital and administrative, with program representing the largest share (reported as about 72.8%). Kelly also noted modest expected state aid growth (about 1.3 percent) but cautioned the final state budget had not been completed as of April 1 and the district's aid figure could change when the state budget is finalized.

District leaders listed next steps and the calendar for public review: a budget adoption discussion slated April 22, a final budget hearing on May 6, and a districtwide budget vote scheduled for May 20 at HCC Middle School with poll hours noted during the presentation as 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Staff cautioned that assessed value changes across the towns that compose the district will shift tax rates by town; in the presentation staff said North Castle showed a 0.2% decrease in its tax rate share while other towns showed increases (figures given in the presentation). Staff also encouraged residents to review the slide deck on the district website and to contact district business office staff with questions.

Ending: The board did not adopt the budget on April 8; staff urged residents to attend hearings and review materials online ahead of the May 20 vote.