Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts $53.8 million budget, previews fall bond referendum
Summary
The Reinecke Union Free School District board adopted a $53,812,226 budget for 2026–27 that keeps the district under the New York State tax levy cap for a 15th consecutive year; leaders also previewed a fall 2026 bond referendum to fund athletic and facility upgrades.
Be it resolved that the Board of Education of the Reinecke Union Free School District adopt the proposed budget or estimate of expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year, 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027, in the amount of $53,812,226, the chair read as the board moved to a voice vote.
The board approved the proposed $53,812,226 spending plan, a vote district leaders said keeps the levy within the New York State tax‑levy cap for the 15th straight year. Superintendent (identified in the meeting as the superintendent) and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Miss Maher led the budget presentation, highlighting a tax‑levy increase of 2.38 percent and a total spending increase of about 2.41 percent — roughly $1,260,000 year over year — while emphasizing commitments to class‑size goals, security, and extracurricular programs.
The budget presentation emphasized revenue sources and pressures. Miss Maher said property taxes make up about 85 percent of the district's revenues and state aid accounts for roughly 10 percent; she also noted the district expects an E‑Rate Category 2 reimbursement tied to the Daniel Warren capital project of about $70,000. Maher cautioned that state aid figures could shift pending the state budget and pointed listeners to a tax‑rate calculator on the district website to estimate how municipal equalization and assessment changes may affect individual homeowner tax rates.
On the expenditure side, presenters outlined major cost drivers: salaries and employee benefits represent roughly 72 percent of the budget; health‑insurance costs were presented as rising (a composite increase of about 8.9 percent), and special‑education outside placements were reported to have a net increase of roughly $500,000 year over year. The district plans to add one new psychologist or social‑work position to lead an in‑house therapeutic support program and to implement a new K–5 elementary English‑language arts curriculum, presenters said. Capital work highlighted for next year includes Daniel Warren project work, electrical system upgrades, gym boiler replacements, Bellows Annex HVAC work, and a Daniel Warren gym floor replacement.
Superintendent remarks framed those investments as aligned with district priorities. On facilities, the superintendent previewed a fall 2026 bond referendum that would fund two all‑weather fields, improvements to baseball and softball fields (including backstops and bleachers), batting cages, upgraded concessions and restrooms, and traffic mitigation features such as a roundabout; the district invited community questions via a livestream Q&A and the email bond@rynac.org.
Votes at a glance The meeting recorded several voice‑vote approvals: adoption of the 2026–27 budget (approved by voice; individual roll‑call tallies were not specified in the transcript), approval of the annual New York State property tax report card (prepared pursuant to the regulations of the Commissioner of Education), acceptance of a $1,000 donation from the Larchmont Mamaroneck Little League for Reinecke baseball, and acceptance of Reinach School Foundation grants listed on the consent agenda.
What happens next The board listed a final budget hearing on May 6 (9 a.m., Daniel Warren) and reminded voters the budget and trustee election is scheduled for May 19, with polls open locally; the district said livestream recordings of budget presentations will remain available on its website and YouTube channel.
