Summit board approves tentative FY27 budget with 4.93% tax-levy increase; county review set

Summit school leaders approved a tentative fiscal year 2027 budget on March 18 that raises the local tax levy by $3.7 million, a 4.93% increase over the prior year.

Superintendent Scott Huff presented the budget as a plan to preserve instructional quality and maintain key programs while addressing rising costs. Assistant business administrator Cathy Sarno told the board state aid came in about 3% lower than the prior year and that health-benefit premiums were a major driver of the increase. The resolution adopted by the board records a $2,227,161 adjustment to cover increased health-benefit premiums.

The board also authorized withdrawals from district reserves: $850,000 from capital reserve (including $600,000 for a Summit Middle School generator, $150,000 for a hot-water-heater replacement at Summit High School and $100,000 for district architect/engineering fees) and $50,000 from the maintenance reserve for VCT replacement at the middle school. Those allocations were included in the motion the board voted to send to the county for review.

The draft increases will be covered mainly by the local levy: the district estimated the change would cost an owner of an average-assessed home about $344 annually, given the district's average home-assessed value. Administration said salaries and benefits represent roughly 85% of general-fund spending; Sarno and Huff said they pursued competitive bidding and other mitigation strategies for insurance and energy costs.

The budget restores several student-facing programs that had been cut in prior cycles. The district will reinstate high-school summer school on a tuition basis (administration estimated $300–$400 per course, with discounts for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch) and return PSAT testing to the school day. The administration also plans to extend an in-district ABA program into the high school; Huff said hiring staff for that program and keeping students in-district will avoid substantial out-of-district tuition and transportation costs, and cited multi-year savings.

Board members pressed administration on alternatives and trade-offs. Huff said each percentage point of levy change equals about $870,000 and that deeper reductions would likely require eliminating staff positions. He and Sarno said the current proposal avoids any reduction in force and relies on attrition and need-based adjustments.

During public comment, residents praised the district’s academic reputation but raised concerns about taxes and equity. Jim Bennett said the board had done a “good job” trimming the levy from an earlier draft and urged longer-term review of state and municipal tax structures. Carol Paik Tang welcomed the return of PSATs but warned that a tuition-based summer-school model could pose access issues for middle-income families. A physician who spoke during public comment urged caution about attributing rising plan costs to individual drug categories and said national industry trends and past bargaining decisions also affect premiums.

The board moved, held a roll-call vote and approved the tentative budget and the reserve withdrawals; members present voted to adopt the resolution. Superintendent Huff said the district will submit the tentative budget to the Executive County Superintendent for review and will hold a final public hearing at 6 p.m. on March 26, 2026, when the Board of Education and Board of School Estimates will consider final adoption.

Votes at a glance: roll call during the meeting recorded 'yes' votes from the members present and the motion carried; the tentative budget will next be reviewed by the county.