Katonah-Lewisboro board reviews $124.4 million proposed budget, says it remains under tax cap

District administrators on March 14 gave the Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District Board of Education a high-level review of the superintendent's proposed 2024-25 budget, which they said totals $124,380,762, a $4,300,000 (3.61%) year-to-year increase and a proposed property tax levy increase of 3.4%.

The administration emphasized the budget was designed to stay under New York's tax-levy cap. "We've met the board's goal of coming to you with a proposed budget that's below the cap," said a district administrator. Officials said major cost drivers include rising health insurance costs, increased debt service from the bond and TRS obligations.

Lisa, the district finance official who presented the line-item analysis, said health insurance was the largest single increase at roughly $3,000,000; contractual obligations and debt service also added materially to costs. "The areas that we saw the major increases ... is in health insurance, and that was close to $3,000,000," she said.

The proposal includes targeted staffing changes intended to maintain programming: one new special-education position to meet elementary needs, three monitors for buses, two new coaching positions to support the women's flag-football program, and contingency positions administrators say are intended to address late enrollment shifts. Administration said the budget otherwise preserves current programming and professional learning.

Officials explained that the district accounted for an approximate $288,000 cut in foundation aid by increasing use of reserves; should higher-than-projected state aid be restored, the reserve would be replenished. The administration also flagged an unanticipated repair need (details not yet specified) that could affect the transfer-to-capital line.

Board members pressed on class-size thresholds that would trigger contingency hires. Administrators described the process: registrar confirmations of enrollment are checked against demographer projections, and decisions about adding sections are typically made in late May when registrations are firm. For kindergarten specifically, administrators said they would be watching registrations closely and might add a section if averages approach the contract range.

Administrators reminded the board that, unlike some districts that present two propositions, voters this year will see three propositions: Proposition 1 authorizes the levy to support the budget; Proposition 2 is a vehicle-replacement proposition asking for authority not to exceed $450,000 to repurpose existing approved funds; and Proposition 3 is similarly a vehicle-proposition that aggregates vehicle purchases under a total dollar cap to allow flexibility given increased prices and delivery delays.

The administration provided the calendar for the budget process: the board may adopt the proposed budget on March 21; the required budget hearing precedes the vote in May; and district voters across New York will cast ballots on May 21. Administration said two PTO-supported budget presentations are scheduled in May for community Q&A.

What happens next: the board is scheduled to consider adopting the board of education's proposed budget at its meeting on March 21. If adopted, the proposed budget will move to the public hearing and then to the May 21 vote.

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