Three Village board hears budget preview as retirements and cuts close gap ahead of May vote
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Summary
Officials told the board the proposed 2026–27 budget would comply with the tax cap after $6.8M+ in savings from retirements and discretionary cuts; the board was told a state waiver restored aid for the district’s half‑day pre‑K program.
Three Village Central School District officials presented a draft 2026–27 budget to the Board of Education on March 25, outlining assumptions ahead of a scheduled April 15 adoption meeting and a May 19 budget vote.
Mister Carlson, the district finance lead (speaker 2), said the budget as presented would comply with the tax cap and yield a 2.87% overall budget increase while the tax levy growth factors produce a 4.54 tax‑cap figure for next year. "We will be able to get state aid on our half day program again next year. So that was fantastic news," Carlson said, reporting that district advocacy secured a waiver to continue state aid for the half‑day pre‑K program.
Why it matters: Carlson told the board the district closed most of a previously reported gap with several measures. He said 21 teachers retired this year, and 18 of those positions will not be refilled, producing a $3,800,000 savings. The district also implemented a 25% across‑the‑board reduction to discretionary budget codes, which Carlson said netted more than $3,000,000. Carlson said capital‑project spending planned for next year rose to roughly $3,000,000 following a prior bond referendum setback, and the district accounted for lower building aid in its calculations.
Carlson outlined the fallback scenarios if voters do not approve the budget: "If the budget does not pass ... we would have to reduce $8,100,000 from that," he said, noting that options include revote, revised budget, or going to contingency (which would prevent any tax levy increase). Carlson also described the schedule: one more board meeting prior to adoption on April 15, a budget hearing on May 6, and the budget vote on May 19.
Details from the presentation included: a projected 2.87% budget increase, a 4.54 tax‑cap figure referenced by Carlson, $3,000,000 planned capital projects for next year (including cupola and pool machinery work), $3,800,000 in savings from retirements where many positions will not be filled, and over $3,000,000 in discretionary reductions. Carlson said unemployment‑insurance costs rose after a state change to the weekly maximum, and health‑insurance remains the largest projected increase.
The board did not take a final vote on the budget at the March 25 meeting; Carlson said the administration will continue to monitor the final state budget through early April and return with any necessary updates before adoption.
Next steps: the board is scheduled to reconvene before April 15 to consider a final proposed budget and to hold the public budget hearing on May 6 prior to the May 19 vote.
