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Pleasantville proposes $65.1 million budget for 2026–27; administrators say levy stays under tax cap
Summary
District leaders presented a $65,114,168 proposed budget for 2026–27 that would raise the tax levy 2.96%, within the calculated 2.98% tax‑cap; staff highlighted salary and health‑insurance increases, special‑education contractual costs and contingency options if voters reject the plan.
The Pleasantville Union Free School District presented a proposed $65,114,168 budget for the 2026–27 school year at the April 7 board meeting, a 3.39% increase over the current year, and said the plan would raise the tax levy by 2.96%, remaining just below the district’s calculated 2.98% allowable increase.
Superintendent (identified in the meeting as the district superintendent) said the proposal is driven by enrollment of “a little over 1,600” students and the district’s mission to support academic programs, athletics and safe school operations. “This is a $65,114,168 budget, which from last year is a 3.39% change,” the superintendent said during the presentation.
John Chow of the district business office highlighted expenditure pressures: contractual salary increases of 4.76%, a net employee‑benefit increase of roughly $480,000 driven primarily by a $631,000 health‑insurance cost rise, and a $620,000 increase in the contractual line tied to special‑education out‑of‑district placements and shifts in BOCES programming. Chow also said a drop in the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) rate will reduce costs next year by about $288,000.
On the revenue side, staff said real‑property taxes remain the largest single revenue source (about 70% of revenues), and the proposed budget assumes an increase in state aid consistent with the governor’s executive budget. Staff noted an expected $122,000 increase in state sources and projected miscellaneous revenue growth (mainly interest income) of about $251,000.
The district described contingency options in the event voters reject the proposed budget. Finance staff explained contingency rules require across‑the‑board reductions and that personnel is typically where the bulk of cuts would fall: “When you go to contingency, the largest amount is going to come out of personnel,” a finance presenter said. Staff showed a contingency reduction target of approximately $1,256,495 in one scenario and an alternative cut target of $875,000 in another scenario, depending on the path the board takes after a budget defeat.
Key timeline dates provided at the meeting: official budget adoption is scheduled for April 21; the public hearing will be May 5; and the district budget vote and capital‑project propositions are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.
The board also discussed fiscal choices such as using a portion of the unassigned fund balance to lower the tax levy; one resident asked whether a $1.33 million figure represented an appropriation or a set‑aside, and finance staff replied it would be used to lower the levy. The meeting materials and full budget presentation are posted on the district website, staff said.
Next steps: the board will adopt the legal documents required by the state if the budget is approved; if voters reject the budget, the board must decide whether to adopt a contingency budget or pursue a second vote in June.
