The Mahopac Central School District has proposed a $148.3 million budget, a 2.23 percent increase from last year’s $145.1 million.
The board discussed keeping the tax levy change at 0 percent. A decision has not yet been made on the tax levy; the official budget is scheduled to be approved on April 21. The proposed budget includes $94,027,287 in taxpayer funds, unchanged from the current year. In a presentation at the March 12 board meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Finance Alyssa Murray said the budget increase would be paid for through reserve funds and projected increases in state aid without raising taxes.
The state aid increase is projected to be $43,627,876, a 2.78 percent increase from last year.
The proposal follows last year’s failed budget vote (on the first try). The district had initially proposed a 1.95 percent tax increase, later reduced to 1 percent, but that budget was rejected by voters.
When higher-than-projected state aid came in, voters approved the same budget, this time with a 0 percent tax increase. After the annual audit, $1 million in excess funds was returned to taxpayers, resulting in a final tax levy of -1.05 percent.
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on adopting the budget April 21. A public budget hearing will be held May 7, and the budget vote, board elections and propositions are set for May 19.
At the March 12 meeting, some residents questioned whether maintaining a flat levy is sustainable.
Tracy Casey, president of the Mahopac Teachers Association, voiced her concerns.
“During the 2010s, we faced layoffs and had to cut programs because the gap between revenue and expenses was too large,” Casey said. “I am concerned if we continue down this path, we will see similar consequences again.”
In addition to the budget, voters will consider several bond propositions this spring. On March 12, the trustees voted on what would be on the ballot.
Proposition 1 is the budget vote on the proposed BOE budget for the 2026-2027 school year.
Proposition 2 is an independent $1.6 million proposal to purchase new school buses and transportation equipment according to the established replacement cycle.
If passed, Proposition 3 would establish a capital reserve fund. If the reserve fund is established, extra funds left over from this year’s budget could be saved in that fund. The capital reserve fund failed in the community vote last year.
Proposition 4 is a $12.5 million bond proposition to fund building improvements across the district. The proposition authorizes renovations through Tetra Tech Architects and would include bathroom renovations, partial roof replacements, HVAC improvements and replacement of a gymnasium floor and divider curtain, along with related equipment and site work.
If Proposition 4 is passed, there will be no tax impact for the community, according to the district’s website.
A contingent proposition, Proposition 5, would authorize an additional $8 million project focused on further upgrades, including improvements to the high school auditorium and playground replacements on Fulmar Road and Austin Road. This proposition would be fully financed through bonds and repaid through taxes over time. It can only take effect if voters approve the initial $12.5 million measure (Proposition 4).
Finally, if Propositions 4 and 5 pass, Proposition 6 could add a $10.5 million athletic and recreational improvement project. The proposal includes the installation of synthetic turf fields at the existing field behind the Falls School building to accommodate baseball and softball, construction of dugouts, batting enclosures, bullpens and fencing, as well as field lighting, walkways, scoreboards and expanded seating, including a 500-seat home grandstand, 100-seat visitor grandstand and press box.
This proposal would also be financed through bonds and repaid through taxes over time.
If Propositions 5 and 6 pass, a Mahopac homeowner with a property value assessed at $500,000 would pay $111.23 annually for the next 15 years, according to the latest capital analysis published by the BOE.
Some school board members expressed their concerns, particularly regarding Proposition 6.
“There’s wants and there’s needs for our district,” Trustee Tanner McCracken said. “I believe this proposition has more wants than needs for our district. I’m voting no on this proposition because it puts our taxpayers on the hook for the next fifteen years.”
Ben DiLullo said Proposition 6 does not align with district priorities.
“I don’t think this is the right thing,” he said, then quoted one community member’s reaction to the district’s spending priorities:
“The only way we’re getting new bathrooms is if they’re covered in turf,” he said.
The audience responded with applause.
“The propositions are still coming out of everybody’s pocket, including mine,” DiLullo said. “I strongly urge that we move to a 2 percent increase on the [main school] budget. That would be $15 a month, $180.24 a year. That’s an investment in our children, not a vanity project for the president of the board.”
In public comment, district parent Christine Buccinna said efforts to implement the findings of the 2024 Comprehensive Special Education Quality Review have not marked significant progress and pointed out that no new funding is being proposed to fix problems the quality review identified.
“When I have had multiple conversations and committee meetings and emails about the things that need to be done in this district, reflected in the audit that was a truthful reflection of what our staff and our district and our students needs. Not one item [from the audit] is on any of those propositions…these propositions are not equitable.”
Former board member Adam Savino also stood up to criticize district leadership.
“In July of 2024, the calculated and systematic disruption and destruction of the board of education and the potential school district became evident,” he said. “In July 2025, it went into overdrive.
“When will it stop?” Savino continued. “When will the smoke and mirrors stop? When will the bullying, retaliation, and everything that goes along with it stop and just go back to doing what’s right? The fields, the lights that you conveniently buried into needed work for the school—shady move, in my opinion.”
Before public comment, Mongon read a statement addressing recent criticism about what has been described as a “personnel issue” involving the denial of tenure to a popular district administrator and former teacher and principal.
“At our last meeting, we listened carefully to the comments being presented,” Mongon said. “We did so in good faith with the goal of understanding the concerns and determining if there were facts that required review. However, many of the statements shared were based on hearsay rather than verifiable information. Moving forward, the board will not respond to or entertain comments based on hearsay.”
DiLullo responded, “I dissent from this statement. I find it distasteful that you’re doing this.”
The exchange prompted a motion to recess and audible reactions from the audience.
“I will not be leaving this table,” said Trustee Jennifer Travis.
The motion to recess was ultimately set aside.
During public comment, residents raised concerns about the reported tenure decision involving Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Jennifer Pontillo — without using her name. One community member compared the discussion to the Harry Potter character Voldemort, known as “he who must not be named.”
This continued in the vein of the March 10 work session, in which many community members made statements on Pontillo’s behalf.
“I’m a teacher in another district. I have never seen teachers stand up for an assistant superintendent of human resources,” one speaker said in support of Pontillo. “Half the time we’re combatants.”
Tom Kazria, president of the Association of Mahopac Administrators, cited Pontillo’s professionalism.
“Beyond recruitment, she’s been an invaluable resource for administrators throughout this district,” Kazria said. “When difficult situations arise, as they sometimes do in education, she consistently provides thoughtful guidance and ensures the proper protocols are followed.”
Retired MCSD teacher Stacy Biagini also spoke: “Just recently, I lost a friend and colleague to pancreatic cancer. During our last conversation, my friend and I spoke about miracles and faith. We also both talked about how lucky we were to work for the Mahopac Central School District. And we both shared that we were blessed to have the person that shall not be named as human resources to help us during our worst times.”
There is conflicting information regarding whether Pontillo’s tenure has been denied.
One community member asked how the superintendent search can be successful with what they called a “gutted” human resources department.
Mongon responded that the superintendent search is “right on schedule,” with interviews having taken place March 3.
Trustees Mongon, McCracken and DiLullo are all up for reelection. McCracken, who is running for County Legislature and recently earned the Conservative Party endorsement, has said he will not seek another term.
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