Carmel Central proposes $152.96M budget with 0% tax increase; trustees press for tax‑cut scenarios and aid impacts

Superintendent Plotkin presented the Carmel Central School District’s proposed 2026–27 spending plan and framed it around five priorities: student learning, equity and access, safe operations, fiscal sustainability and community trust. Plotkin said the budget totals $152,963,237, a 3.9% budget‑to‑budget increase that is being presented with a 0% local tax increase and will go before voters on May 19.

Assistant Ken Silva told trustees the district plans to use $3.9 million drawn from six targeted reserves (including insurance, repair and retirement reserves and debt‑service/tax certiorari accounts) to support operations and avoid a property‑tax increase this year. “This addresses the pressing operational needs while preserving the long‑term fiscal health of our school district,” Silva said.

Several trustees pressed for alternative scenarios showing modest tax relief. Trustee Wise asked for concrete models: “A 0.1% tax cut would cost the district about $100,000,” he said, and urged administrators to show what a $100,000 or a 1% cut would mean for both taxpayers and district revenues. Vice President Curzio and Trustee Kurzio called for numbers that also show whether reduced tax levies would alter state aid categories.

Silva and Plotkin cautioned that some aid lines — including high‑tax aid, transportation and building aid — can be sensitive to tax‑levy changes. Silva said foundation aid would not decline with a modest levy reduction but that he could not yet produce exact figures for all categorical aid changes on the fly. He committed to delivering line‑by‑line numbers showing the effect of hypothetical levies before the board’s next meeting.

The board did not take a formal vote on the budget during the work session. Plotkin and Silva said all budget materials, including the line‑by‑line spreadsheet and the reserve usage detail, are available on the district website and that administrators will provide the requested tax‑cut and aid‑impact scenarios ahead of final board action.