Carmel Central board adopts $147.24 million budget with 0.74% tax‑levy increase

The Carmel Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously April 8 to adopt a $147,236,096 budget for the 2025–26 school year, the district’s administration said.

The vote followed a line‑by‑line presentation by Ken Silver, assistant superintendent for business and human resources, who said the budget reflects a 3.9% increase from 2024–25 and a proposed tax levy of $102,149,794 — a 0.74% increase over the prior year. Silver told trustees the district plans to use $1.7 million of restricted reserves in part to fund capital repairs and to offset certain expenses, and that the district still expects to end the year with about $3 million in fund balance.

Why it matters: Trustees and administrators framed the package as a balance between restoring some services and protecting taxpayers after a turbulent budget year. The proposal moves several aidable expenses to more appropriate fund codes (for example, copier contracts to BOCES to capture 67% state aid and certain cafeteria monitors into the cafeteria fund), and includes planned capital work estimated at $850,000 that may receive about 63% state aid.

Key budget items and context

- Reserves and state aid: The district reported approximately $26 million in reserves, of which the board is recommending a one‑time use of $1.7 million. Foundation aid remains uncertain until the state budget is finalized, Silver said. The district’s pre‑K aid is rising to $1,025,000 to support 188 UPK seats. - Transportation and safety: The plan replaces several oldest buses (2006–2008 models), adds cameras and radios to buses and funds increased monitors on middle‑school routes. The administration expects a child safety‑zone program to generate up to $500,000 in additional state aid in the following year. - Capital and property sale: Sale of a Route 52 parcel is expected to reduce annual debt service by roughly $240,000 through 2037 and provide about $300,000 cash to reserves. The district identified smaller capital repairs that can be funded through the budget without a bond and is planning a possible fall bond focused on fields and expanding the bus garage with infrastructure for future electric buses. - Salaries and benefits: Silver said salary and benefits represented about 82% of current spending but are projected to fall to approximately 80% next year; health insurance makes up about 60% of benefits costs. The district reported eight unit members accepted a retirement incentive; administrators expect to replace four to five positions in whole or in part and project teacher headcount to move from 351 toward 347–348. - Per‑pupil spending: The district estimated per‑pupil expenditures at roughly $36,000 next year, near New York State’s reported average of about $35,000.

Board discussion and vote

Trustees questioned one‑time reserve use, staffing changes, and whether the district has sufficient three‑year projections to make commitments sustainable. Several trustees thanked the administration for producing line‑item detail and said the process had improved transparency since last year’s budget cycle. Trustee John Curzio gave a detailed history of past levy trends and said the current proposal struck an appropriate balance between services and taxpayer protections.

After an amendment to correct the budget and levy dollar figures, trustees conducted a roll‑call vote. The recorded tally was: Trustee Curzio — Aye; Vice President Dahl — Aye; Trustee Douglas — Aye; President Orser — Aye; Trustee Paraskeva — Aye; Trustee Wise — Aye. The motion passed and the budget was approved for presentation to the public at the May hearing and the May 20 vote.

What comes next

Administrators scheduled community outreach meetings between now and May 20 (PTA meetings, town sessions and Zoom presentations) and will present a repair‑reserve plan to the board at a future meeting. The board must still present the adopted budget at a public hearing and the final funding decision rests with voters on May 20.

Vote provenance: The budget adoption and roll‑call are on the record in the April 8 board meeting video and minutes; the board adopted the published budget figures as amended on the floor.