Wappingers board adopts $336.9 million 2026–27 budget; approves $3M vehicle purchase amid electric-bus concerns

The Wappingers Central School District Board of Education on April 13 adopted a proposed $336,894,345 budget for the 2026–27 school year and approved a separate transportation purchase proposition of just under $3 million to replace and add district vehicles.

Superintendent Dr. Bonk presented the budget, which he described as “not the superintendent's proposed budget. This is our proposed budget,” saying the plan focuses on maintaining programs, student safety, special education support and career and technical education while staying below the statutory tax cap. He said the levy-to-levy change would be 2.59 percent and that the district plans to use just under $15 million of general fund balance to help offset costs.

The administration laid out spending priorities and personnel changes included in the proposal: two new positions (a human-resources supervisor and a special-education director), continued investment in mental-health staff and nurses, and capital work such as a modernized fire-alarm system and reconstruction of the John Jay High School press box. The presentation allocated roughly 78 percent of the budget—about $265 million—to programs and services, with capital at about $39 million and administration at approximately 9.6 percent.

Transportation and electric-bus transition

A second proposition would fund the scheduled replacement of vehicles: the district asked to replace 15 vehicles that had exceeded useful life and to add 10 more, for 25 new gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles at a cost just under $3 million. Dr. Bonk framed the request in the context of a state regulation that directs fleets to transition to electric vehicles by 2035, saying the district remains unconvinced that local electrical infrastructure and charger capacity are ready to accommodate a full fleet conversion. “We are not confident in beginning to purchase electric vehicles,” he said, noting estimates of roughly $500,000 per electric bus and an additional $140 million in facility and charging infrastructure to electrify the district’s roughly 261 vehicles.

Contingency and risks

Dr. Bonk told the board that if the budget fails, the district could adopt a contingency budget, revote the same budget, or present a revised budget. He said a contingency budget would eliminate nonessential equipment and could force up to 73 position eliminations: 56 programmatic, 11 administrative and six facilities positions. He also outlined that using fund balance in the proposed budget explains the difference between the budget-to-budget increase and the smaller tax-levy change.

Board action and voting

After the presentation, the board resolved to adopt the proposed budget to present as Proposition 1 on the May 19 ballot; the motion (Ms. Callan) was seconded by Mr. McFarland and approved unanimously. The district also approved the school property tax report card and consent items related to the budget process.

What voters will decide

Voters will see Proposition 1 (the $336,894,345 budget) and Proposition 2 (the transportation purchase) on the May 19 ballot. In-person voting is scheduled 7:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. at designated polling sites; mail-in ballots must be received by the district clerk by 5:00 p.m. on May 19. If the budget is rejected, the board has until June 16 to revote or adopt alternatives.

The board’s adoption of the budget does not itself increase taxes; final collection depends on voter approval and the district’s subsequent levy decisions.