MCS Approves 251M Budget, Taxes up 15, Public Vote May 20

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Central School board members last week approved a $25.1 million budget for 2025-26 that includes a tax levy increase of 1.5 percent. The spending plan will now go before voters on May 20.

Superintendent Mark Place noted that MCS has the lowest tax increase in the area for the second year in a row.

In March, board members faced a budget gap of $277,000 and agreed to eliminate the gap by reducing spending and using funds from two reserves. To eliminate the rest of the budget gap, the district used about $65,000 from the Employee Retirement System and $100,000 from the Teachers Retirement System.

Spending was reduced to $25.1 million and funds from the TRS and the ERS to eliminate the gap, school Business Administrator Robyn Bhend told school board members last Wednesday night.

"We were able to do that," Ms. Bhend said Wednesday. "We made it work."

The final spending plan is $200,000 or 0.8 percent more than the current budget.

The district is still waiting for the state to adopt its 2025-26 budget. It is not known whether school aid will be increased or by how much, Ms. Bhend said.  

If there is additional state aid, "We would reduce the amount of reserve funding by the amount of the additional Foundation aid," Ms. Bhend said after the meeting.

Currently, state aid revenue for the district stands at $12.7 million, down $107,000 or 0.84 percent from this year. There are talks in the state legislatures to increase state aid by three percent.

Officials originally had been looking at a rollover budget that totaled $25.46 million, about $556,000 or 2.33 percent more than the current budget.

In addition to the budget, other voter propositions expected for consideration:

* School Bus Purchase ‐ Total cost not to exceed $484,000. As per Bus Replacement Plan – diesel engine buses, two-65 passenger buses with luggage compartments, one-30 passenger Wheelchair bus.

* Capital Project/Capital Reserve Proposition, $8.1 million total project cost. Withdrawal $2.1M from 2023 Capital Reserve for no additional tax impact.  Ability to continue funding reserve for the next project after withdrawal (additional $2M through 2033). Anticipate a capital project every five years to maintain/upgrade buildings and grounds.

* Repair Reserve Transfer. Per Reserve/Fund Balance plan - Reserve balance as of December 31, 2024, $421,011. Transfer not to exceed $600,000 (voter approval required/actual amount TBD by board). Funds set-aside for one-time unanticipated repair expenditures.