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District presents 2026–27 budget overview, says proposed levy remains under legal cap
Summary
Mamaroneck Union Free School District officials presented a high-level 2026–27 budget overview, outlining timeline, capital-reserve projects and staffing priorities and saying the district’s proposed levy remains under the state tax-cap calculation.
The board heard a high-level overview of the 2026–27 budget, with district presenters saying the proposed tax levy, after accounting for capital adjustments and state aid, remains within legal limits.
Sylvia Wallach, the district finance official, walked the board through the tax-levy calculation, explaining how tax-base growth, payments-in-lieu (PILOTs), the capital tax levy and New York State building-aid offsets feed into the allowable levy. "That increase allowed is 3.07%," Wallach said, and she concluded the district's presented levy is under the tax cap.
The presentation framed the budget as a three-year effort and emphasized operational priorities. The presenter described investments in data systems and student assessment tools, expanded staffing at the high school (including eight new teaching FTEs in the prior year), increased counseling and special-education supports, and additional security at two elementary schools. The district also described creating a capital reserve to fund projects without issuing a bond; the presenter said the first large project earmarked for that reserve is a STEM fabrication lab at Hammocks, with work expected to begin in summer 2027 pending board approvals and voter authorization.
Board members were directed to the formal budget presentation scheduled for March 24, when staff will provide enrollment and financial detail. The timeline for budget actions shared with the public included board adoption on April 21, a public hearing on May 5 and the public vote on May 19, 2026. The presenter said building-level "state of the schools" sessions will explain how budget choices affect individual schools and provide additional opportunities for community engagement.
The presenter also flagged rising costs: health-care premiums are projected to increase (the presenter cited about a 9.9% increase), which the district said will consume a substantial portion of available tax-cap capacity. Officials said they will use debt-service fund balances and other non-general-fund sources where appropriate to smooth capital-related amounts in the levy calculation. The board received budget books for review and was told to expect a detailed presentation and vote timeline at future meetings.
