Rhinebeck board adopts $52.55 million 2025–26 budget; tax levy held to 2.37%

The Rhinebeck Union Free School District board on April 22 adopted a $52,548,411 budget for the 2025–26 school year, a 2.78% increase over the prior year, while holding the property-tax levy increase to 2.37% to comply with New York's tax-cap rules.

Carolyn Maher, assistant superintendent for business finance, told the board that property taxes supply roughly 85% of the district's revenue and that the proposed budget reflects a tax-cap compliant levy increase of just over $1,000,000. The board's action follows three public presentations of the budget and comes ahead of the resident vote on May 20, when district taxpayers will decide whether to approve the proposal.

Board members and administrators cited several drivers of the spending change: projected enrollment shifts, rising employee-benefit costs, targeted capital work and investments in security and technology. Maher described employee benefits as a notable cost pressure and outlined a one-time $155,000 camera upgrade and other security-related expenditures that affect supervision and security lines. Salaries are budgeted at about $25.7 million, roughly half of district spending.

To remain tax-cap compliant the budget uses a combination of state-aid estimates, reserve transfers and an $575,000 fund-balance carry-forward. The district will also draw on the debt-service reserve and an ERS transfer (about $580,000) to manage pension and debt costs. Administrators said the state's final aid numbers remain uncertain because the state budget had not yet been adopted; the board used the best available estimates for planning.

The proposed capital transfer in the budget—$485,000—will support two projects planned for summer construction if the budget is approved: a state-approved security vestibule (an entry "airlock") at the high-school main entrance and electrical work across campus. Administrators said bids have been received and a construction contract will be awarded after budget approval.

During the meeting the board moved and approved the budget resolution; Trustee Golly and Trustee Parker were recorded when the motion was called, and all six trustees present voted "Aye." Trustee Formal was recorded as absent during roll call.

The district emphasized that the presented levy is the amount to be raised from property-tax payers; final tax rates for homeowners depend on equalization and assessment changes from the two municipalities that feed the district. The board noted a tax-rate calculator on the district website to help residents estimate the effect on individual properties.

Next steps: the budget will go before Rhinebeck voters on Tuesday, May 20. The board urged residents to review materials the business office has posted online and to attend informational sessions before the vote.