Harrison Central School District board adopts $152 million 2026-27 budget, keeps levy within cap

The Harrison Central School District Board of Education approved the district's 2026-27 school budget on consent during its April 15 regular business meeting, adopting a $152 million spending plan the administration said balances revenues and expenditures.

Tim, the district's business official who presented the budget, said the plan adds about 11.9 full-time equivalent positions for next year (8.2 of those already hired in 2025-26) to meet program and enrollment needs and to support special education services. He said district staff reduced earlier requests by two teaching positions to close a roughly $301,000 gap identified at the March 25 meeting.

"We do have a balanced budget with our revenues and our expenditures," Tim said during his presentation.

The administration cited several cost drivers: an estimated $3.7 million of the $5.7 million increase in expenditures is tied to salaries and health insurance, and rising debt service tied to the district's capital project borrowing. Officials said the borrowing is the first stage of financing for a roughly $79.5 million capital project included in the district planning and budget materials.

District projections list a proposed tax levy of $132.2 million and an estimated tax rate around 3.59, with the superintendent noting the final rate will depend on the assessor's August roll. The administration also cited a reported true value tax rate of 12.05 and said it expects modest foundation-aid growth pending the state budget.

Superintendent Dr. Wall urged community members to attend upcoming budget presentations at each elementary school and at the high school. The district scheduled a public budget hearing for May 6 and the budget vote and Board of Education election for May 19; absentee and early voting application materials will be available starting April 20, and in-person application and early voting will be available April 22.

The budget and related finance and facilities items were approved on the finance consent agenda by voice vote; the consent package also included multiple contract awards (professional auditing and financial advisory services), a deduct change order for a high-school classroom addition, the property tax report card, treasurer's reports and several inter-district health-services contracts.

Board members praised district staff for narrowing requests and for the business office's work on the budget; one member noted the reductions may increase class sizes in some areas. The board announced its next short business meeting on April 21 at Louis M. Klein Middle School, and adjourned the April 15 session.