The Newburgh Enlarged City School District’s finance department presented a $394 million proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year at a board meeting last Tuesday, a $15 million increase over the current year that would eliminate 37 positions while holding the tax levy flat.

The largest drivers of the increase are salaries and benefits. The proposed budget calls for about $9 million more in salary payments — a 2.8% increase — and roughly $3 million more in benefits, a 5% rise. Spending on supplies, contract services and tuition would climb about $4 million, or roughly 3%. The budget projects about $1 million in savings from reduced debt service payments.

The 37 positions slated for elimination include nine teaching positions, more than 20 elementary teaching assistant slots — the majority of which are already vacant — and an assistant superintendent overseeing pre-kindergarten through second grade. District officials said all of the reductions reflect resignations or existing vacancies, not layoffs.

That framing drew pushback from speakers at Tuesday’s meeting. Newburgh Teachers’ Association President Stacy Moran said eliminating unfilled positions misreads why they went unfilled in the first place.

The proposed budget also adds positions. Seven new roles unrelated to a new career and technical education building include three behaviorists, two Committee on Special Education chairpeople, a data processing clerk for the exceptional learners department, and a chief custodian for operations and maintenance.

An additional 26 positions are tied to the new CTE building, though 17 of those will be filled by reassigning existing staff from other buildings rather than new hires. The nine genuinely new CTE positions include two custodians, two career-technical teachers, three school monitors, and staff for HVAC and plumbing.

Despite the overall budget increase, the district does not plan to raise the tax levy. Officials said the gap will be covered by a projected $14.5 million increase in state and regional aid, including a $6 million boost in transportation aid, $4 million in additional New York State Contract for Excellence funds, and $4.5 million in special services aid from BOCES.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12. Voters will decide on the school district and library budget on Tuesday, May 19.