Elmsford school leaders outline $48.1 million proposed budget, set public hearing for May 6

Superintendent Susan Young and Assistant Superintendent Todd Curry presented the Elmsford district's proposed 2026'27 budget to the village council, saying it would preserve class sizes, sustain programs and fund planned facility upgrades.

"We love sharing about our district and all the wonderful things that we're doing," Young said, thanking the mayor and the Elmsford Police Department for partnership on school safety. She highlighted the district's mission to prepare students for college and careers and cited "double-digit increases in our ELA and math scores."

Curry summarized revenues and expenditures, saying "most of our revenue comes from the tax levy" (about 76%), with state aid at roughly $8.8 million and miscellaneous revenue around 6%. He said salaries and benefits together comprise about $22 million of expenses and that transportation accounts for roughly 12% of the budget.

The presentation lists a proposed budget of about $48.1 million, a budget'to'budget increase of 1.73% and a proposed tax-levy increase of 1.98%; Young noted that the increase "does not exceed the New York State maximum tax levy cap of 5.03%."

District priorities highlighted maintaining favorable class sizes (K'3 classes as small as 14 students; many middle grades in the high teens; some classes up to the low-to-mid 20s), sustaining athletics and one-to-one technology for students and staff, and recruiting and retaining effective educators. Young said the district is "in the top 10th percentile of salaries for teachers in all of Westchester."

On special education and facilities, Young said the district plans to open an 8'12 special-education classroom at Dixon to "bring students home" from out-of-district placements. She also listed facilities projects, including roof work and HVAC upgrades, and said the district will replace 19 unit ventilators at Brady Elementary School so those classrooms have air conditioning when students return.

Young reviewed voter and timeline details: a public hearing is set for May 6, and the final budget vote and board election will be held May 19 at Alice Erady Elementary School. She provided voter-registration and absentee-ballot deadlines described during the presentation: registration open through May 14; absentee applications to be mailed by May 12; completed applications returned to the district clerk by May 18 if picked up; absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 19.

The council did not take a final vote during the presentation; the public hearing and the May 19 vote remain the next formal steps.