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Bronxville board adopts budget that will require May override referendum
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Summary
The Bronxville Union Free School District board adopted a proposed 2026–27 budget that exceeds the state tax levy cap by $1,381,326 and will appear on a May 19 override referendum; district leaders urged community support and outlined consequences of cutting programs to stay under the cap.
The Bronxville Union Free School District board on Tuesday adopted a proposed 2026–27 budget that will go before voters in a May 19 override referendum after trustees were told the plan exceeds the tax levy cap by $1,381,326.
Dan (district finance lead) told the board the proposal would represent a 4.8% levy increase and that, under current rules, the measure will require approval by 60% plus one of voters. He said the district’s long run of budgeting under the 2011 tax levy cap has saved taxpayers millions but that recent inflation—especially health-care premium growth—has driven the gap this year.
"Our proposed budget sits at 50, $7,600,000 with a tax levy of about 50,500,000," Dan said during his presentation, and added the district is over the cap by $1,381,326. He urged residents to check their assessment changes because individual tax impacts will vary by home values.
Supervising board members framed the decision as necessary to preserve core programs. "There was really not anything to cut that would have avoided anything being taken away from programming or from the great faculty that we have here," the presiding officer said, asking the community to support the referendum.
Board members emphasized that cuts required to meet the cap would be both deep and widespread. Trustees pointed to class size, kindergarten aides, elective courses and coaches as examples of programs they would not recommend cutting.
Administrators also reported an improving projection for the current fiscal year: a surplus above $1.3 million driven largely by revenue sources such as special-education tuition and interest income. Finance staff said the surplus should help preserve the district’s bond rating and fund planned facility work, including athletic-field replacement, over the coming years.
Next steps: the board set the referendum date for Tuesday, May 19, and members said the administration and trustees will continue community outreach in the weeks leading up to the vote.
