Pleasantville board adopts $65.1M 2026–27 budget; capital project vote set for May 19

The Pleasantville Board of Education voted by voice vote on April 21 to adopt a proposed 2026–27 budget of $65,114,168, a 3.39% budget-to-budget increase, with a tax-levy change of 2.96% just under the district’s cap.

Superintendent Dr. Lutinski, presenting the figures, said the proposal preserves staffing and programming and noted that property taxes remain the largest revenue stream. “Our 2026–27 proposed budget is $65,114,168,” the superintendent stated during the presentation, and administrators emphasized that supporting services and contractual obligations drive much of the expenditure growth.

John Chow, who walked the board through expenditure and revenue detail, said salaries and benefits account for more than 71% of expenditures and that property taxes represent about 67% of revenue while state aid is roughly 20% and charges for services (largely special-education tuition) represent about 8.18%.

Why it matters: adoption of the proposed budget is the board’s legal step to place the budget before voters. The district will hold a public hearing on May 5; the budget vote, the two capital-proposition questions and trustee elections are scheduled for May 19 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Middle School multipurpose room.

Administration also summarized Pleasantville Forward Together, a two-proposition capital project with a maximum project cost of $17,500,000 that includes $4,000,000 in reserves/savings, borrowing of $13,500,000 structured so as not to increase the tax levy, and an expected state-aid reimbursement of about 53% on qualifying costs. Proposition 1 targets building-infrastructure repairs, the track, turf and security technology; Proposition 2 focuses on STEAM instructional spaces, BRS outdoor reimagining and athletic-facility improvements including sanitary upgrades, turf for an upper practice field and field lights.

Officials stressed that the 53% reimbursement is preapproved for the project costs submitted to the state and will be known before construction begins. The district noted that the capital project is separate from the annual operating budget adopted on April 21.

What’s next: the board scheduled a second public hearing on the budget for May 5 and urged voters to review the plain-language materials and the district’s FAQ before voting on May 19.