Archived Budget Information

2025-26 Budget Revote Information

2025 Financial Statements
2025 ECA Financial Statements

Q: What is the proposed budget increase?
The revised budget proposal is for a 4.9% increase over last year.

Q: How will this affect my school taxes?
To fund the proposal, the school tax levy would need to increase by 9%.

Q: What happens if this budget does not pass?
The district would adopt a contingency budget, forcing cuts to staff, athletics, clubs, and academic programs.

25-26 Budget Revote Notice

25-26 NL Budget Hearing Revote Presentation

25-26 NL Budget Revote Presentation

25-26 NL Revote Proposed Budget

25-26 Budget Original Vote Results and Election Outcomes

25-26 Budget Revote Newsletter

A letter from Superintendent Harper

First, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to vote on our original proposed school budget. We heard the community loud and clear. With consideration of all of the communication we have received, the Board and I have worked hard to revise and come up with a new budget proposal. Unfortunately, we have had to make significant staffing cuts to lower this proposal. The resubmitted budget with a lower increase will balance the rising costs we face and the concerns we hear from residents. New Lebanon is a special community, and we are committed to doing right by our residents and students.

If this revised budget is not approved, the district would be required by law to adopt a contingency budget. A failed budget vote would freeze spending at last year’s levels, with no increase to cover rising health insurance premiums for staff and retirees, contractual salary increases, inflation, or new state mandates. The impact would be significant. More staff reductions will be necessary. Field trips will not take place. Building maintenance and equipment replacements will be deferred. Community access to school facilities will be limited. In addition, the district may be forced to suspend after-school clubs and inter-scholastic athletics could be cut entirely. Non-required electives may also need to be reduced or eliminated.

The Board and district leadership have done their best to revise the budget in a way that protects our core programs while responding to the concerns raised by voters. These are not decisions anyone wants to make. The revised budget represents our best effort to move forward responsibly. Please vote on Tuesday, June 17th, from 12 pm–8 pm at Walter B. Howard Elementary.

Best,
Christopher Harper
Interim Superintendent

2025-26 Budget Information

25-26 Budget Newsletter

25-26 Bus Proposition Presentation

As part of our scheduled bus replacement plan, the district is committed to maintaining a safe, efficient, cost-effective transportation fleet. Several of our current vehicles are aging and approaching or exceeding 100,000 miles, at which point warranties expire and maintenance costs increase significantly.

To address this, the district proposes purchasing two 30-passenger buses and two minivans for the 2025–2026 school year. This plan continues our strategy of replacing high-mileage vehicles with reliable ones that meet the growing needs of our student population, particularly those requiring special transportation.

This bus purchase will not increase the overall budget. By aligning new bus purchases with our existing debt schedule and leveraging available state aid, debt service costs remain flat.

25-26 Proposed Budget

25-26 Budget Hearing Presentation

25-26 Budget Presentation #1

25-26 Budget Presentation #2

25-26 Budget Presentation #3

25-26 Budget Presentation #4

25-26 Budget Presentation #5

25-26 Board of Education Seat Petition

2024-25 Budget Information:

24-25 Proposed Budget

24-25 Budget Update from Superintendent Kourt 4/30/2024

Estimated Tax Impact Per Home 8.91%

24-25 Budget Update from Superintendent Kourt 4/12/2024

24-25 Budget Update from Superintendent Kourt

2024-2025 Budget Newsletter

2024-25 Budget Newsletter

2024-2025 Budget Meeting and Presentations

24-25 Board Budget Presentation #1

24-25 Budget Presentation #2

24-25 Final Budget Presentation #3

Budget Workshop 4/10/24

Estimated Tax Impact Per Home 8.91%

New Lebanon CSD Final Budget Discussion and Board Adoption 4-23-24

24-25 Proposed Budget

24-25 BOE Meeting and Hearing 5/8/2024

Board of Education Elections

Individuals are eligible for election to the Board if they are qualified voters of the district (district resident, U.S. citizen, 18 and older) and can read and write. New York State Education Law does not limit the number of terms of office a member may serve. Board members receive no salaries or other compensation.

Financials

Understanding New York’s Property Tax Cap

In June 2011, New York state leaders responded to calls for property tax relief by enacting a law that placed new restrictions on how school districts (and municipalities) may increase their tax levies. Although often referred to as a “2 percent tax cap,” the law does not, in fact, restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent. It does, however, require at least 60 percent voter approval (supermajority) for a school budget if the proposed levy increase exceeds a certain amount. That amount, called the “tax levy limit,” is calculated by each district according to a complex formula outlined in the law, and varies by district. To help our community understand New York’s Property Tax Cap, we have provided you with informational resources.