Baldwin school leaders present roughly $180 million budget, ask voters to approve reserve-funded capital work

Superintendent Anthony McNella presented the Baldwin Union Free School District’s budget to the board and public, saying the proposal "is really designed to ensure that the... board of education priority goals are being honored" and that about three quarters of the spending would go to programming.

McNella said the proposal reflects a roughly 4.12% year-to-year budget increase, with program spending comprising about 75.23% of the total and a capital increase of roughly 7.7%. He told attendees the proposed property tax levy is 3.12%, which he said is within the district’s 3.21% tax-cap limit.

Why it matters: McNella warned that if voters reject the budget twice the district would be forced by state law to set the tax levy at 0% and cut "about $3,800,000"—a reduction he said would eliminate planned programs, new teams and capital projects. "Having a defeated budget is detrimental to a district," he said.

The budget presentation outlined curricular and extracurricular additions that the administration said the spending supports: a year-one launch of a four-year science research sequence aiming at regional competitions, new career- and technology-focused offerings including a 3D design and engineering course tied to dual-enrollment, and several new AP options (including AP cybersecurity and AP business principles). Athletics expansions in the plan include adding seventh-grade boys and girls teams in multiple sports and an additional assistant coach where participation has increased.

On facilities, McNella reviewed completed work from the district’s 2024 bond (the high-school wellness center, districtwide fire-alarm replacement and partial roof projects) and outlined upcoming projects: lead remediation at an older elementary building, electrical upgrades at several elementary schools, phased kitchen and cafeteria additions at Brookside, Meadow and Lenox (some work contingent on voter approval), roof replacements, and Phase 1 construction of a new high-school athletic center. He said construction for some additions will begin this summer and estimated approximately 18 months for major additions such as gyms.

The superintendent described four propositions that will appear on the ballot: Proposition 1 is the school budget itself; Proposition 2 is the Baldwin Public Library budget (a separate ballot item); Proposition 3 would authorize use of an $8.3 million capital reserve to complete remaining kitchen renovations and additions (McNella emphasized that this would not increase the tax levy); and Proposition 4 would authorize use of the district’s existing technology reserve to replace Chromebooks and purchase related instructional equipment (also described as having no tax-levy impact).

Board members asked for clarification on gym size and field layouts; McNella and the district’s architects explained the additional gym will be comparable in size to the existing gym, and that a middle-school field redesign will accommodate soccer, lacrosse and field hockey but not regulation football because of length constraints.

Practical next steps and vote information were given to the public: absentee- and mail-ballot request deadlines and drop-off details were reviewed by the administration, and the district’s in-person budget vote is scheduled for May 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high-school gymnasium. McNella reminded residents that the state budget remains pending and that some revenue lines are tentative pending legislative action.

The meeting continued with a library presentation and public Q&A; no formal budget adoption or final vote occurred at the session. The board adjourned the public meeting at 8:10 p.m.