Lakeland School Board adopts $196.9 million budget

The 2025-2026 budget sees a 2.87 percent increase from the 2024-2025 school year’s figure of $191,413,753. The district-wide tax levy increase of 1.8 percent is below the NYS tax cap of 2.09 percent (and is lower than the 3.85 percent increase in 2024-2025).

However, the tax burden varies by town in the district, which includes students from Yorktown, Mahopac (Town of Carmel), Cortlandt, Philipstown, Putnam Valley, and Somers. Gagliardi said differences in the tax rates reflect the assessed value as determined by each municipality.

After a 5.5 percent rise last year, Yorktown residents will see a decrease of 2.2 percent from 2024-2025.

At the school board’s April 10 meeting, School Business Administrator Pamela Delladonna said an increase in state aid allowed the district to balance the budget while reducing the tax burden for some in the district. Somers residents, who saw a 4.7 percent increase last year, will be flat (0 percent) for 2025-2026.

“Our main sources of revenue are state aid and our property tax levy,” Delladonna said. “They are inversely related, so if we get a decrease in state aid one year, it will be reflected in the levy, because to balance that [year’s] budget, we will be raising the levy. Last year’s increase of 3.85 percent occurred because our state aid year-over-year was small. This year, luckily, we have gotten more from the state; therefore, we can now pass that savings on to the taxpayer.”

However, some district residents will pay more: After a 3.10 percent increase in 2024-2025, Cortlandt residents will see a 4.10 percent increase for 2025-2026. Residents in Putnam County towns will all see an increase in 2025-2026. Putnam Valley, which had taxes go up by 1.1 percent in 2024-2025, will see a bigger jump of 7 percent for 2025-2026. Carmel residents had a 1.2 percent drop in 2024-2025 but will see a 4.4 percent increase in 2025-2026. Philipstown residents saw a 5 percent rise in 2024-2025 and will see a 4.9 percent jump for 2025-2026.

Delladonna said she did not anticipate any change to federal aid, which flows through the state, for the 2025-2026 school year. She noted that because each year’s tax levy is influenced by the previous year, the district had to balance keeping taxes low with having a platform for future budgets.

Trustee Michael Daly said the district was “caught between a rock and a hard place” because of uncertainty in the economy.

“How do we act prudently today, be sensitive to what our taxpayers need, and at the same time be prudent [while] not knowing what’s going to happen in the future," Daley said. "I’m glad we came in with a tax levy below the cap. I think we’re trying to be as sensitive as possible but also as realistic as possible, because there are a number of big variables that are going to impact this area for years to come. Hopefully it will work.”

The proposed spending plan maintains all current curricular, co-curricular, and interscholastic programs. The 2025-2026 final budget summary includes goals of maintaining appropriate class sizes, staffing based on need, sustaining instructional programs, maintaining district facilities, enhancing safety and security, fostering community partnerships, salary adjustments, operational improvements to the bus fleet, and long-term financial responsibility.

Proposed expenditures for 2025-2026 allocate 8 percent to administrative salaries and benefits, 12 percent to building and grounds staff, and 80 percent to teaching and support staff salaries and benefits.

In a letter to the community, Superintendent Karen Gagliardi and BOE President Adam Kaufman said. “This increase is necessary to support rising costs in labor, benefits, and utilities.”

“We have crafted a fiscally responsible budget that preserves the high quality of our educational programs while maintaining prudent financial management," they added. "The proposed budget allows us to continue offering a well-rounded and enriching educational experience for all students.”

They said they were “proud of our accomplishments and excited for the future as we continue to innovate in education, engage our community, prioritize success for all, ensure safety, and excel in MTSS and STEAM initiatives.”

The tax levy is to rise from $125,190,198 in 2024-2025 to $127,447,198 in 2025-2026. State aid—the district’s other largest source of revenue—is projected to increase by approximately 6.04 percent, from $54,359,743 in 2024-2025 to $57,642,656 in 2025-2026. Proposed revenues for the 2025-2026 school year break down as follows: 65 percent from property taxes, 28 percent from state and federal aid, 4 percent from “other” sources, including sales tax and tuition, and 3 percent from the district's fund balance.

District officials said taxpayer support is “vital in helping us achieve [the district's] goals.”

Vehicle bond proposition

Voters will also have a chance to decide on a bond proposition to raise just under $1.66 million for 17 new gas-powered vehicles, including six large gas-powered buses (at $162,000 each, four 30-passenger gas vans ($103,000 each), four 20-passenger vans ($95,000 each) and three SUVs ($65,000 each). Gagliardi said replacing old buses with new gas-powered vehicles would save money in the long term.

“To maintain the efficiency of our fleet of over 120 buses and follow our 10-year vehicle replacement schedule we’re currently purchasing new buses [which] minimizes expensive repairs on older vehicles and maximizes the use of taxpayer funds.” Gagliardi said, adding that the decision to switch to has-powered vehicles was “based on a combination of economic efficiency, regulatory compliance, and environmental considerations.”

Voting Details

The Lakeland Board of Education will hold its 2025-2026 budget vote and school board trustee election on Tuesday, May 20, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Van Cortlandville Elementary School, 3100 East Main St.

With three seats open, Kaufman and fellow incumbents Michael Marchese and Marianne DiSalvo Kolesar are running unopposed for the school board.

For absentee or early mail ballot, contact Lakeland’s district clerk at lcosenza@lakelandschools.org or 914-245-1700 ext. 39022.