District outlines 3% tax-levy proposal and $102.66M spending plan ahead of June 17 vote

Central Square Central School District officials presented the proposed 2025 spending plan at a required public hearing on June 9, announcing a $102,658,363 expenditure proposition to be decided by voters on June 17. Maureen Ladd, the district’s school business manager, said the proposed budget represents a “budget increase of 4.15%” while the district is recommending a 3% tax-levy increase to limit the impact on taxpayers.

Ladd said the district’s revenues come primarily from state aid and the tax levy, and that the proposal uses one-time reserves and negotiated savings to bridge gaps: “We have health insurance savings that we’re gonna use towards it next year, 625,000,” she said. Ladd also told the audience the 3% option required eliminating roughly “$1,200,000” of expenditures compared with the earlier 6.86% proposal.

Superintendent Mr. Calabufo framed the longer-term pressure on the district in demographic terms: “Over the last 10 years, we’ve lost just under 1,000 students,” he said, and noted that foundation aid growth is constrained by enrollment changes. Officials warned that if the 3% levy does not pass, deeper cuts could be necessary, including staff reductions and larger class sizes.

The hearing included detailed explanations about how a levy differs from a tax rate and an estimate of homeowner impact; Ladd gave an example estimate of about "$13.91 per $1,000" of assessed value in the draft calculation and said the district had ordered additional ballots and adjusted polling hours to prepare for the June 17 vote.

The presentation and public comments make clear the board’s immediate choice: seek voter approval for the 3% levy to avoid larger program cuts, or prepare contingency reductions that officials said would affect assistants, electives, athletics and other services.