A proposed school budget that comes with a tax increase, but promises no teacher layoffs, will be presented to Newburgh voters this month.

The Newburgh Board of Education (BOE) adopted on Tuesday, April 23 their proposed 2024-2025 school year budget amount of $360.4 million with a proposed tax levy increase of 3.8% ($4.2 million). The proposed Newburgh Free Library Budget amount of $6.2 million with a tax levy in the amount of $5.9 million was also adopted Tuesday night.

The public will now have the opportunity to voice their comments or concerns to the board of education at a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. The final budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21 with voting taking place from noon to 9 p.m.

As of April 20, New York State has officially adopted their budget at $237 billion. The budget presentation Tuesday night now reflects updates made based on received state figures.

Dr. Jackielyn Manning Campbell, Superintendent of Schools, and Kimberly Rohring, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, again presented the budget on Tuesday night. The goals of the superintendent remain unchanged with literacy for all scholars and support for English language learners and exceptional learners in the district.

The proposed tax levy calculations (3.8% or $4.2 million), breakdowns of tax bills and estimated difference figures for homes assessed in the district are still preliminary, according to Rohring. The district is awaiting final assessed value figures for each municipality and final equalization rates from the Office of Real Property Services in Albany.

Overall district revenue, made up of several sources, was proposed at $360.4 million. The breakdowns are as follows: local revenue at $123.2 million; state revenue at $225.4 million; federal revenue at $470,000 and appropriated one time use funds at $11.4 million.

Local revenue is composed of items such as the tax levy, payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), utility taxes, use fees and interest earnings. State revenue includes foundation aid, excess cost aid, categorical aids, transportation and building aid and high tax aid. Federal revenue includes items such as Medicaid reimbursement and appropriated one-time revenue includes Appropriated Fund Balance and Restricted Reserves.

Revenue adjustments for 2025 include the following: an increase in Foundation Aid of $3.49 million; state categorical aid increases by $8.5 million; proposed use of one-time funds (appropriated fund balance and restricted reserves) is $11.4 million; interest earnings increase by $2.1 million and Medicaid reimbursements increased by $250,000.

Foundation Aid is defined as the main source of funding for state public schools. Categorical Aid, defined by the online education news organization EdSource, are “funds from the state or federal government granted to qualifying schools or districts for specific children with special needs, certain programs or special purposes, such as transportation.”

District staffing continues to be a concern commented on by community members. Currently, the district has reported a total of 1801 full-time employees. Since the last meeting on April 9, there was a projected 102 full-time position reduction across the district’s five bargaining units. The number has now been reduced to 97 positions. Budget documents clarified the 97 position reduction was due to retirement/attrition and vacancies.

The breakdown of the 97 position reduction is as follows: the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) - 14 full time positions reduction; the Management/Confidential (MC) unit - one position reduction and the Newburgh Supervisors and Administrators Association (NSAA) - four position reduction.

The Newburgh Teachers Association (NTA) noted a reduction of 62 positions. The NTA, the largest bargaining unit in the district, has a current total of 1,108 positions. The Newburgh Teachers Association Teaching Assistants unit noted a reduction of 16 positions.

The district has since restored the Director of Elementary position, two music teachers and one art teacher into the 24-25 budget. At the meeting on Tuesday night, several Newburgh students and parents and several faculty members spoke for about an hour and advocated for the music and arts programs.

“I would like to let you know that after further examination, there will be no layoffs in the music or art departments for the next school year,” said Manning Campbell.

The budget presentation, other documents and updates are available on the district website.