The White Plains City School District superintendent presented an updated long-range plan to the Board of Education, recommending the district apply $3,300,000 from its debt service reserve fund to lower the proposed 2025–26 tax levy increase to a recommended 1.68% (a proposed levy of $206,600,000), down from a maximum allowable levy calculation of approximately 3.33% that would total about $209,900,000.

The presentation framed the plan as a multi-year fiscal strategy. "We absolutely intend to do that this year," the superintendent said, describing the recommended draw from reserves and the district's intent to stay within the tax levy limit while maintaining services. The plan also detailed how payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) agreements and the tax-base growth factor affect the tax levy calculation, and noted that the tax base growth factor has been near zero in recent years.

Why it matters: The board must set next year's spending and levy under a tightly constrained tax levy cap. The administration said the recommended use of reserves reduces the near-term tax increase for residents while leaving options to address multi-year fiscal gaps.

Key elements and figures
- Maximum allowable levy (before recommended reserve use): roughly $209,900,000, a 3.33% increase over the prior year, the presentation said.
- Administration recommendation: use $3,300,000 from the debt service reserve fund to reduce the levy to $206,600,000, a 1.68% increase.
- The administration said there is no pension exclusion for 2025–26 in its model; the capital exclusion (net of building aid) is the primary exclusion used in the calculation.
- The presentation described prior one-time uses of reserves for capital and nonrecurring expenses: $3,300,000 over eight years and $24,200,000 for one-time capital-like expenses, per the superintendent's remarks.
- Capital borrowing: district staff said they plan to reduce a previously authorized bond ask from $60,000,000 to about $53,000,000 based on project savings.

State and external uncertainty
The superintendent warned that the governor's executive budget and subsequent legislative action will affect final state aid and the district's modeling. "We'll have to see what the runs look like following the governor's release of the executive proposal," the superintendent said. The presentation noted the New York State School Boards Association and Board of Regents as organizations involved in policy guidance; officials said any state-level changes (for example, to cell-phone policy or foundation aid formulas) would be incorporated once details are released.

Operations and program notes
District staff described efforts to generate efficiencies and alternative revenue, including transportation-route consolidation, contract changes with a new transportation provider, and pursuing leasing and partnership opportunities. Officials said they expect to publish anticipated bus schedules earlier than usual for the 2025–26 year and continue work around staffing for before- and after-school programs in collaboration with the City and the youth bureau.

Enrollment and program priorities
Although the district had earlier demographic projections that showed decline, the superintendent reported the current demography indicates enrollment is trending up modestly rather than down. The long-range plan emphasizes preserving curricular and extracurricular programs while seeking operational efficiencies and voluntary reconfigurations through attrition rather than reductions in force.

Next steps
District staff said they will refine budget projections after the governor's executive budget and with further board committee review, and that the finance committee and board will continue the multi-step adoption process for 2025–26. The superintendent said the district will update the community and take questions as the budget season proceeds.

Ending
Board members thanked the administration and encouraged residents to review the materials posted on the district website and to submit budget questions to the finance team.