Eastchester proposes $110.9 million budget, says levy increase will remain within 2% cap

Superintendent Dr. Valente told the Eastchester Union Free School District Board of Education that the district will present a proposed $110,900,000 budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and that the recommended real property tax levy would increase roughly $1.9 million while remaining within the state'mandated 2% cap.

The proposal, which Dr. Valente described as balancing program priorities with tax-rate limits, earmarks $3 million from the unappropriated fund balance to reduce next year's tax burden and increases estimated revenue from interest earnings and higher out'of'district tuition charges for students with disabilities.

Dr. Valente said the local levy, including STAR, is estimated at about $83,593,100 and that state aid is currently estimated at $17,700,000. He described the levy change this way: "Current year is 81,000,000 and change. Next year, we're going up to 83,000,000 and change. So we're looking at an increase of 1,900,000.0. That remains below. We tiptoe up to the cap, but we remain below the cap." The superintendent noted that, using a median assessed value example cited in the presentation, the typical taxpayer's bill would rise by roughly $104 (about three quarters of 1 percent) under the plan, and he repeatedly qualified revenue figures as estimates.

Why it matters: The budget funds classroom programming, staffing and expanded student supports at a time when enrollment is projected to decline slightly (from 2,951 this year to an estimated 2,895 next year). Board members raised the link between program investments and student outcomes during the discussion.

Revenue and major drivers Dr. Valente said the district expects roughly a 4.9% increase in total revenue next year driven by higher interest income, modest increases in local levy and an adjustment in tuition charged to other districts that send students with disabilities to Eastchester programs. "We inherited tuitions that were below where they should have been, and we have decided now to bring those tuitions up to a level that's comparable to the expense," he said, summarizing a move from roughly $75,000'$77,000 per out'of'district placement to about $100,000 to better reflect service costs.

Dr. Valente also explained the use of the district's fund balance and the classification of certain debt and building aid as "excludables" under the tax cap calculation. The presentation lists the county sales tax at an estimated $1,900,000 and other revenues (health services, gifts and interest) contributing to the revenue picture.

Enrollment and staffing adjustments The presentation included a grade'by'grade enrollment review and staff planning. The district projects a net decline of about 56 students (1.9%) next year, with small increases at some elementary grades and modest decreases at the high school. Dr. Valente said the budget replaces a consolidated self'contained special education position at an elementary school with a specialized reading teacher and that the district will recruit to cover retirements. "Let me state categorically for the record, no teacher is losing his or her job," he said. The budget also proposes adding a school counselor at Waverly, a position the superintendent said the building has not previously had.

Special education and co'teaching Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services Jill Post and Dr. Valente described a strategic shift toward less restrictive placements and expanded co'teaching. Jill Post said some students are moving into less restrictive environments, reducing the need for a small self'contained class and enabling placements into specialized reading instruction and co'teaching classrooms.

Mental health and SOAR The budget includes a district-level mental-health pilot called the Student Outreach and Research (SOAR) Center. Dr. Meyer outlined the center and said the district would contribute $35,000 from the general fund while leveraging grant support: approximately $45,000 from the Westchester County Office of Mental Health and $20,000 from a New York State mental-health grant (described in the presentation as a regional award). Dr. Meyer said the grants provide start'up seed money and that the county grant is structured to renew, noting the district will evaluate sustainability at the end of the grant period. The SOAR Center would fund a social worker, clinical outreach, professional development for staff and opportunities to connect students with regional partners including White Plains Hospital.

Program investments and academic context Board members asked Dr. Valente to connect budget increases to program outcomes. Dr. Valente highlighted recent gains on state assessments and expanded access to Regents and honors courses, which he said create downstream demands for staffing and support. The superintendent identified investments in literacy coaches, guidance counselors and co'teaching as examples of spending intended to improve academic results. Elementary music staffing increases and expanded chorus, orchestra and band offerings were also described as part of program growth.

Next steps Dr. Valente said the board will continue the budget workshop process and will return in March for additional presentations (technology and athletics among them). The transcript notes the board will consider formal budget adoption at its March 25 meeting.

See also: enrollment tables, revenue pie and program line items included in the board's presentation (figures presented as "estimated" in the meeting).