With voters set to decide the Pine Plains Central School District’s budget in less than two weeks, district officials on Tuesday, May 5, presented a $40.78 million spending plan that would exceed the state tax cap by 1.03%, requiring a supermajority to pass.
District Business Official Laura Rafferty detailed the proposed 2026-27 budget during a public hearing Tuesday, May 5, before the school board opened the floor for community feedback.
The spending plan is 5.34% higher than the current year’s budget, an increase of $2,066,455. Rafferty and Superintendent Brian Timm have attributed much of the increase to costs outside the district’s control, including a 10% surge in employee health premiums, BOCES fees and a predicted 16% rise in general liability insurance.
The district expects to receive $8,634,631 in total state funding, with roughly 75%, or $6,586,823, coming through Foundation Aid. The threat of reduced state aid, coupled with declining enrollment, has fueled an ongoing school consolidation debate since July 2024.
“[Our state support] is based on preliminary numbers provided by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office in January,” Rafferty said. “We’re still awaiting the finalized state budget: They’re on the 8th [deadline] extender, and we’re in anticipation of a 9th.”
On April 21, the school board approved $491,000 in cuts to programs and services in an effort to limit the tax increase. Slated for elimination are the elementary enrichment program, the two 5 p.m. bus routes and all new equipment purchases.
Even with those reductions, the district’s spending plan exceeds the allowed 3.4% tax levy limit. That means the budget must receive at least 60% voter approval to pass at the polls May 19.
“No one wants to make any cuts,” Timm said. “We have tried to make them as minimal as possible.”
Two attendees addressed the board during the public hearing. Ancram parent Erin Haab asked, “What happens if the vote doesn’t pass?”
Timm outlined three possible paths: resubmitting the original budget, proposing an amended version or adopting a contingency budget. If the board puts a revised budget before voters for a second vote, he said, the spending plan would be adjusted downward to meet the tax cap.
“Right now that’s about $291,000 [in additional cuts],” Timm said.
A contingency budget would restrict spending to essential operating expenses, effectively eliminating extras such as sports teams, field trips and extracurricular activities. Under state law, a district must adopt a contingency budget if voters reject a budget proposal twice.
In an email to the Herald, school board member Fred “Chip” Couse said a contingency budget would require the district to freeze the tax levy at the 2025-26 level.
“If we were to go on a contingency budget,” he wrote, “The school board would need to cut an additional $924,000 — or a cumulative [reduction of] $1.2 million.”
Brooke Brown, a Stanfordville parent and school board candidate, criticized the board for what she described as a failure to respond to community concerns about district spending.
“You view parents as obstacles instead of partners,” she said.
Brown questioned several budget line items before turning to the rising cost of BOCES services.
“The costs are rising and rising,” she said. “Have you discussed whether this is sustainable?”
Incumbent board member James Griffin said, “We have talked about this with representatives at [State Sen.] Michelle Hinchey’s office, but there are more conversations that have to happen.”
Timm acknowledged that the district has little control over BOCES budget increases, but said the agency provides essential special education programs.
“Students we can’t serve here, go there,” he said, adding that the state reimburses the district for up to 43% of those costs at the end of the year.
The district’s 2026-27 budget is one of two propositions on the May 19 ballot. Voters will also be asked to approve the purchase of two 71-passenger buses and three 35-passenger buses, totaling $750,276.55. The vehicles would be paid for through the bus purchase reserve fund previously authorized in May 2022.
School board elections will also be on the ballot, with three candidates running for two seats that open July 1. In addition to Brown and Griffin, the race includes Stanford resident Amie Buehler.
In other business, the school board resolved to circulate an email petition supporting a proposed separation of public and private high school playoffs, an effort aimed at creating separate postseason tournaments. Section 1 teams, largely in Westchester County, are challenging the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to address what they describe as a competitive imbalance.
“Private schools have the ability to attract athletes,” Timm said. “I know of one private school’s basketball team that has five New Jersey students on their team.”
School Board President Amie Fredericks said, “This is an issue I hear about every season. We need to let people receive the petition so they can decide for themselves.”
The school board also voted to change its regular meeting time on Tuesday, May 19. It will meet in the Stissing Mountain Junior-Senior High School library at 8:30 p.m., immediately following the annual budget vote and board election.
In-person voting on Tuesday, May 19 will be held at Stissing Mountain High School cafeteria from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early mail and absentee ballots can be obtained online, at the school, or by calling District Clerk Julia Tomaine at 518-398-7181, Ext. 1408. Tomaine must receive the completed ballots no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.