Budget committee approves $68.7 million budget, urges board to preserve school‑based mental‑health services

The Central School District 13J budget committee voted to approve a $68,667,744 budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year and attached a budget note urging the school board to preserve mid‑to‑high level school‑based mental‑health services, an amount the committee estimated at $427,000–$623,000.

The recommendation came after a district presentation showing sustained enrollment declines and tight revenue projections. Dr. Kavisto told the committee the district has lost an additional 56 students since February, ‘‘times $11,000 — that’s about a half‑million‑dollar loss’’ in enrollment‑driven revenue, a pressure echoed in packet materials that show constrained operating revenue and rising personnel costs. Staff presented the total budget for all funds as $68,667,744, with a general fund of $50,616,000.

Public commenters and several committee members pressed for prioritizing school‑based mental‑health supports during deliberations. Britta Centoni, a parent and former member of the school‑based mental‑health team, warned, “Cutting the entire contract with no input or collaboration with them on how we’re gonna move forward is irresponsible,” and urged the committee to preserve services and plan collaboratively for alternatives. Parents and students described the counseling and wellness room services as critical to student safety and classroom functioning.

During deliberations the committee discussed multiple ways to free the funds — reducing operating contingency, a limited furlough‑day approach, soliciting targeted building‑level reductions or a combination of these options — and acknowledged legal and operational limits on shifting restricted program dollars. Committee member Turner moved the main motion to approve the budget with a note asking the board to preserve mental‑health services at a mid‑to‑high level (the $427,000–$623,000 range). The motion was seconded and approved by roll call; staff recorded the vote as unanimous.

The committee also approved tax resolutions tied to the district’s operating and debt service needs, including requesting $5,272,434 to support debt service payments for the coming fiscal year; staff clarified projected levy rates and explained the assessor ultimately sets the bond levy based on assessed value.

The committee’s approval is a recommendation to the school board; the board will consider adoption at its June 26 meeting. The committee’s note asks the board to identify how to preserve the specified level of school‑based mental‑health services (via contingency adjustments, furloughs, other reallocations or board action) while recognizing final authority and the need to comply with legal constraints on fund use.