South Orangetown presents $116.7M preliminary budget, sets May 19 vote; tax‑cap scenario aims at 1.85% levy
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Summary
Assistant Superintendent Natalie Espinal presented a balanced preliminary 2026–27 budget totaling $116,688,270 (1.21% increase) that models a $1.5M transfer to capital and a taxable‑levy scenario of 1.85%; the board set April 14 to adopt and May 19 for the public vote.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Natalie Espinal presented the district’s preliminary 2026–27 budget, describing revenue and expenditure estimates, enrollment projections and tax‑cap calculations ahead of the board’s planned April adoption and the May 19 budget vote.
Espinal said demographers project a small enrollment decline (roughly 10 students to about 2,759) and summarized three funding layers: federal (Title, IDEA and other grants), state (foundation and categorical aid) and local (operating and capital levies). She noted decreases in federal Title funding over recent years.
On the tax cap, Espinal showed two scenarios. A $2,000,000 transfer to capital produced a 2.4 percent cap figure; reducing that planned transfer to $1,500,000 lowers the calculated tax‑levy cap to 1.85 percent. The district’s preliminary budget change is 1.21 percent, with total estimated spending of $116,688,270. Espinal said the $1.5M transfer is budgeted for capital improvements, and that exact capital items will be spelled out at budget adoption.
Espinal also outlined planned propositions for the ballot: adoption of the 2026–27 budget; use of capital reserves for a multipurpose athletic field at Tappan Zee High School; establishing a capital reserve for student transportation vehicles to help meet the state zero‑emission bus mandate; and a repair reserve fund (maximum $1,000,000) that requires voter approval to spend.
Board members praised staff for pursuing a conservative levy approach to moderate long‑term tax growth while preserving small class sizes and program offerings. One board member commended administrators for negotiating contracts and keeping the levy below the maximum possible cap.
Next steps: The board is scheduled to adopt the budget on April 14, with the public vote on May 19. Administrators will provide detailed itemization of capital transfers and any interior work tied to capital projects prior to adoption.
