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Middletown board hears proposed $283 million budget, schedules adoption and public hearings
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Summary
Superintendent presented a proposed $283 million 2026–27 budget — a 2.65% increase — emphasizing reliance on state aid, use of roughly $3.5 million of reserves and a tax levy increase below the state cap; the board set adoption and outreach dates ahead of the May vote.
The Middletown City School District superintendent presented a proposed $283,000,000 budget for 2026–27 at the March 19 board meeting, asking the community to review revenue assumptions and a plan that would use approximately $3.5 million of the district’s fund balance to balance the books.
The superintendent said state aid currently accounts for about 68.5% of the district’s revenues, local property taxes about 26.7%, and other revenues about 3.2%. The draft budget represents a 2.65% increase over last year, and the administration recommended setting a tax levy increase in the neighborhood of 1.48 to 1.99 percent, which the presenters said would remain below the state’s commonly cited 2% cap.
Board members and district staff explained that the budget is being prepared before New York’s final state budget numbers are available; the district is building its plan on the January foundation-aid run (1% growth) and stressed that exact state aid figures could change. The superintendent said the district will adopt the budget at its April 21 meeting, hold a public hearing on May 7 and participate in the public vote on Super Tuesday, May 19.
Board members pressed for clarity on the district’s fund balance and contingency planning. One member explained that state guidance often cites a 4% target for unassigned reserves but that Middletown’s current fund-balance ratio is closer to 6.5%, which the board said helps preserve the district’s strong bond rating and provides flexibility in lean years. The administration confirmed that any additional state aid realized after adoption would largely restore reserves rather than be spent immediately so the district can maintain stability over multiple years.
The presentation included program priorities the district said it will defend in advocacy to Albany, including additional foundation aid, English-language-learner supports and special-education funding. Officials said they will hold a virtual and an in-person budget recap on April 13 to answer detailed questions from the public.
Next steps: the board will vote to adopt the proposed budget on April 21; the public hearing is set for May 7 and the school budget vote is scheduled for May 19.
