Carmel board adopts 2024-25 budget with 0% tax-levy after heated debate over numbers and cuts

The Carmel Central School District Board of Education voted 4–3 on April 24 to adopt a $141,773,966 spending plan for the 2024–25 school year and hold the districts proposed tax levy at $101,399,438, a 0% increase from the prior year.

The vote followed an unusually long meeting in which trustees, administrators and dozens of public speakers pressed for clearer line-item accounting while debating multiple budget scenarios that ranged from a 1.34% levy with targeted cuts to a near-0% scenario that would require deep program reductions. Trustee John Curzio, who seconded the motion to set the 0% levy, argued the board could not approve an increase without confidence in the numbers backing it. "The school district's rate of spending and taxing is unsustainable," Curzio said during debate.

Why it matters: Trustees and members of the public said repeated mismatches between budget line items and actual expenditures had eroded trust and complicated decision-making. Speakers cited commonly flagged problem areas including chaperone and substitute overages, bus and BOCES charges, and maintenance and utilities. Several trustees said the districts historical budgeting practice of under‑ and over‑reserving certain codes made late-night adjustments necessary and left the board to vote without the level of line-by-line certainty they wanted.

What the board approved: The resolution the board adopted sets the proposed 2024–25 spending at $141,773,966 and the proposed tax levy at $101,399,438 (0% change). The motion passed after trustees Curzio, Orser, Paraskeva and Wise voted in favor, and President DeWalt (recorded as no), Vice President Krakow (no) and Trustee Douglas voted against.

Board direction and next steps: Although the levy was set at 0%, the board directed administration to preserve core programs and explore internal corrections and efficiencies rather than shift the burden onto parents or eliminate high‑priority services. Several trustees pressed for a public, board-directed auditing of recurring budget variances and for more timely, line-by-line reports before future votes. Administration agreed to circulate the live spreadsheet used during the meeting and to continue negotiations and follow-up analyses as directed by the board.

From the public: Dozens of residents and staff urged greater transparency and accountability. Samantha Folling, who spoke during public comment, told trustees, "It's time to clean your house," summarizing a broader call from parents for clearer budget documents and better communication about priorities. Several community members said they were prepared to pay more taxes if they knew the district would fix budgeting practices; others urged that program cuts not disproportionately affect students who depend on school services.

What wasnt happen immediately: The board moved several bargaining-related memoranda of agreement onto the consent agenda and approved them (see separate items). Trustees also agreed to postpone scheduled executive-session topics to the boards May 7 meeting so administrators could provide additional documentation.

The vote leaves the district with a adopted, voter‑presented budget and with a board mandate to reconcile internal accounting issues and pursue savings without eroding core student services.

Ending: The board approved the budget and consent agenda and scheduled unresolved executive-session items and follow-up budget detail for May 7.