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Board hears budget pitch showing flat tax levy as residents warn cuts could hit classroom supports
Summary
District finance staff presented a proposed 2026–27 budget with a 3.9% spending increase and a flat tax levy of $113,611,615. During the public hearing parents and residents urged the board to reconsider teaching assistant reductions and to clarify the district’s use of reserves and BOCES reimbursements.
The Newburgh City School District presented its proposed 2026–27 budget on May 12, showing a 3.9% increase in overall spending while keeping the tax levy flat.
Budget presenter Miss Roehring told the board the proposed tax levy “remains flat at $113,611,615,” and that state aid increases—driven by expense‑based aid, BOCES special services, transportation and building aid—account for a large portion of the revenue gains. She also told voters there will be two propositions on the ballot next week: the district budget ($394,068,884) and a separate tax levy for the Newburgh Free Library ($5,996,436). Polls for the Board of Education election and the vote are open noon–9 p.m. on May 19.
Why it matters: Voters will decide whether to approve the spending plan, and several speakers at the hearing said the document’s line items — not just the levy percentage — will determine whether students keep needed supports.
During the public comment period, parent and community advocate Tracy Wallace urged trustees to reconsider proposed reductions to teaching assistants, saying the aides provide “direct classroom support to students who need academic assistance, behavioral support, redirection, communication assistance, and help remain engaged.” Wallace warned that cutting those positions could worsen classroom stability and make it harder for teachers to meet students’ needs.
Resident Dennis Grant asked for more detail about capital‑related increases to BOCES aid and raised questions about the district’s financial strategy: he cited a projected increase in the use of reserves (from about $1.12 million to roughly $5.05 million) and a drop in the district’s fund balance (from $8,000,000 to $3,770,000) and asked whether tapping reserves to ‘temporarily balance’ the budget is sustainable. He also requested clarity on measurable outcomes tied to roughly $3 million of increased program spending.
A retired attendance teacher, Eileen Williams, asked whether attendance teacher positions remain funded, arguing that consistent attendance is a prerequisite for learning and should figure into staffing decisions.
Board and administration response: The finance presenter walked through key revenue drivers in the slides, including categorical aid changes and a projected rise in state aid of about $14 million tied to expense‑based formulae and BOCES reimbursements. Trustees asked clarifying questions about specific line items (for example, why a $200,000 placeholder for stage rigging was removed from one construction contract and will instead be managed via a direct vendor agreement).
Next steps: The budget and library levy will appear on the May 19 ballot. The board encouraged residents to vote and said more detailed budget documents are available on the district website.
