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Katona‑Lewisboro proposes 2026‑27 budget within tax cap; staff realignments and capital plans accompany bond and reserve proposals
Summary
District leaders presented a proposed $131.8M 2026‑27 budget (approx. +3.46%), said the levy increase falls within the allowable limit (~3.72%), proposed staffing adjustments largely by attrition to offset a projected $1.7M loss in state aid, and outlined three May 19 ballot propositions (budget, capital reserve access, and the Lewisboro bond).
The Katonah‑Lewisboro Union Free School District presented its proposed 2026‑27 budget on March 12, totaling about $131.8 million, a year‑over‑year increase of roughly 3.46% and a tax‑levy increase that the administration said falls at the allowable cap (approximately 3.72%). The budget presentation accompanied facilities planning and the Lewisboro bond discussion.
Finance staff and the superintendent explained that part of the gap the district must close comes from a projected reduction in recurring state revenue (discussed as roughly $1.7 million compared with prior aid ratios). The district identified health‑insurance increases and special‑education tuition as the largest expenditure drivers. To respond, administrators described a net instructional/administrative reduction of about 11 full‑time equivalent positions overall, largely through attrition, while aiming to preserve classroom sizes and expand co‑taught inclusive services at the elementary level.
The board emphasized discipline in prioritizing classroom resources: administrators said most reductions would not remove direct classroom coverage or increase class sizes and that several positions vacated through retirement would not be refilled. The board also proposed a student‑empowerment coordinator role (10‑month) to centralize student leadership, tutoring and after‑school coordination, shifting some administrative coordination to a lower‑cost staffing model.
On capital planning, the district explained the capital reserve (established in 2015) and how it proposes to bring that reserve to its $2.5 million maximum to fund priority projects identified in the five‑year building‑condition survey (BCS). The BCS — prepared by H2M and submitted to the state — enumerated priority‑one (life‑safety) and priority‑two items; the team reported no immediate life‑safety deficiencies and recommended a prioritized list of envelope, HVAC, electrical and athletic facility projects to extend asset life and avoid higher future costs. The district said some reserve‑funded work is aidable and that leveraging aid and bond timing can reduce near‑term levy pressure.
Voters will see three propositions on May 19: (1) the general 2026‑27 budget, (2) authorization to access the capital reserve (target to top at $2.5M), and (3) the proposed bond to renovate Lewisboro Elementary into a UPK center and community hub. The board scheduled adoption of the proposed budget on March 26 and a public budget hearing on May 7.
The administration said it will continue outreach to municipalities and community organizations about capital planning and to provide clearer town‑level tax‑impact scenarios and aidability analyses ahead of March 26 and the May ballots. The board also granted brief public comment time; two speakers urged fiscal scrutiny before approving large capital spending.
