Port Jervis presents $103.74 million rollover budget; board approves series of motions ahead of May 20 vote

Port Jervis City School District Superintendent Dr. John Bell and Assistant Superintendent for Business John Timm presented a $103,741,043 rollover budget at the board meeting on Feb. 11, 2025, saying it represents a roughly $7.2 million (about 7.5%) increase over the current year.

The rollover budget keeps most line items the same and adjusts figures the district is contractually obligated to pay, Timm said. The presentation identified salary obligations, higher special‑education costs and increased debt service as primary drivers of the increase, and outlined options the board will consider—including additional state aid, use of fund balance or a future tax-levy increase—to close any remaining gap.

Why it matters: the budget sets revenue and spending levels for schools, determines whether the district will use reserves and influences whether the public will approve capital projects and the operating budget on the May 20 ballot.

Key numbers and drivers

- Total rollover budget presented: $103,741,043 (presented as a $7,200,000 increase; ~7.5%). - Salary costs cited as increasing by about $1,500,000, driven in part by step increases and pending retirements. - Special-education expenditures were cited as increasing $2,250,000. - Debt‑service costs were described as increasing roughly $3,000,000; Timm said corresponding state aid will offset that increase over time. - Transportation costs were projected to increase about $900,000. - Retirement-system costs and employer FICA/social‑security matching were noted (retirement +$300,000;…