Wallkill Valley board approves tentative $17.86 million budget, schedules April 29 public hearing

The Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board of Education on March 18 approved a tentative budget for the 2025–26 school year that totals $17,864,579 and set a public hearing for Tuesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in the district media center.

The budget as adopted for submission lists a General Fund tax levy of $13,349,131, other state and local General Fund receipts of $3,579,687, a Special Revenue Fund of $192,036, and debt service totals that include a $316,181 tax levy and $177,544 in other sources. The board also approved appropriating $148,545 from surplus to help offset the tax increase.

As part of the budget actions, the board authorized withdrawals from Capital Reserve: $100,000 to fund shop upgrades and $150,000 to purchase cafeteria equipment. The board additionally approved use of an increase in the health care adjustment of $126,237 and established a maximum $35,000 total reimbursement ceiling for staff travel and related expenses for the year.

Board President Jacqueline Elmo called the motion, which passed on a unanimous roll call vote with Rober Carlson making the motion and Virginia Jones seconding. The board clerk will submit the tentative budget to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools by the statutory deadline.

The public hearing will allow residents to review the proposed budget line items and ask questions prior to final adoption. The board document states the fund details and withdrawals; the board did not change the proposed public hearing date during the meeting.