Millbrook board considers piercing tax cap to avoid program and staff cuts

Millbrook Central School District officials on Wednesday laid out a draft 2026–27 spending plan and warned that without added local revenue or deep program cuts the district faces a multimillion‑dollar shortfall.

At a public meeting, finance staff presented a proposed operating budget of $38,828,599 (preliminary, as of March 30) and said the district’s normal tax‑cap levy would leave a gap of about $2.45 million. Administrators recommended adding $1 million to the levy — a one‑year “pierce the cap” proposal that would raise the year‑to‑year levy change to $2.951 million (about a 10.62% increase) and require a 60% plus‑one vote for passage.

"We are doing this at this point flying blind because we don't actually know how much money we are going to get from the state," Caroline (district administration) said, describing uncertainty in projected state aid and recent years when aid arrived late or at lower levels than proposed. Finance director Elliot said the contingency rules would sharply limit spending options if voters reject the budget and estimated about $441,000 of legally removable items under a contingency scenario, leaving an additional roughly $2.5 million to find.

Administration showed a menu of possible reductions that would close portions of the gap but carry program‑level consequences: eliminating non‑mandated preK programming (partial savings because some preK costs are grant‑funded), cutting field‑trip transportation ($25,000), halting co‑curricular activities or elementary band, eliminating the summer scholars program, or substantially trimming athletics (up to $629,000). Transportation‑focused options ranged from returning to state minimums (estimated $181,000 savings) to reorganizing runs into a single tier (up to $317,000) or combining changes ($453,000). Officials also reported $721,000 in savings already realized by leaving eight vacancies unfilled; closing the remaining roughly $1 million would require about 14 more positions (≈8% of staff).

Board members and the public urged a middle path. "We need a middle ground," one board member said, arguing for a mix of targeted cuts and a modest levy increase rather than sweeping program reductions or full reliance on the tax cap. Parents and PTO leaders pressed the district for clearer, simpler communications and more community outreach ahead of the May vote; several said they were willing to host informational sessions for boosters and parent groups.

If voters approve the pierce‑the‑cap levy, administrators said the district could preserve planned programs and staffing; if not, administrators warned that a contingency budget could require deeper cuts that would be difficult to implement without jeopardizing services. The board opened public comment and scheduled additional outreach; the May budget vote is the next procedural step.