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Byram Hills board adopts 2026'27 budget, proposes 5.25% tax levy increase
Summary
The Byram Hills Central School District Board adopted a $2026'27 budget that decreases overall spending by about 1.1% while proposing a 5.25% tax levy increase; the administration plans to use $3.6 million in reserves to balance the year and will seek voter approval in May.
Byram Hills Central School District Board of Education members on April 21 voted to adopt the district's final proposed budget for the 2026'27 school year, approving a 1.1% overall decrease in spending while proposing a 5.25% increase in the property tax levy.
Kelly Reed, who presented the budget to the board, said the district's proposed spending is down by about $1.2 million from the prior year while preserving programs, extracurricular activities and transportation. Reed told the board that program spending would make up about 76% of the budget and that salaries and benefits account for roughly 82% of expenses. On the revenue side he said roughly 92% of revenue is expected to come from real property taxes, with state aid at about 4% and other local sources making up the remainder.
The budget presentation included a breakdown of how the proposed levy would affect town tax rates: increases in parts of North Castle and Bedford, and projected decreases in parts of New Castle and Mount Pleasant. Reed said the administration expects to draw about $3.6 million from reserves to balance the 2026'27 budget and walked members through the restricted and unrestricted fund'balance calculations that underpin that estimate.
Board members asked detailed questions about the report card numbers and reserve calculations before taking the vote. One board member thanked the finance advisory committee and staff for extensive workshops and detailed review of staffing and costs during a year of "headwinds" from rising contractual costs and constrained state aid.
Reed said the district will hold a budget hearing on May 5 and that the district's budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. He urged community members to consult the March 24 presentation for details on assessed values and town rate calculations and offered to share the updated report card after the meeting.
The board recorded the motion, a second and a vote approving the proposed 2026'27 budget and the property tax report card. The proposed 5.25% levy would require voter approval under state rules (Reed noted a 60% voter approval threshold for certain levy actions as discussed during the presentation).
