2025-2026 Budget
On May 20, Valley Central School District (VCSD) voters approved the district’s 2025-26 budget proposal of $133,800,000, 693 votes for to 329 against, as well as approved an $11,100,000 proposition to renovate and improve school district facilities 693 votes for to 327 against. Additionally, three board members were elected to serve a three-year term beginning July 1. At this time these are unofficial results.
The $133,800,000 budget includes a spending increase of $4,500,000, or 3.48%, over the current school year’s budget, with a tax levy increase of 2.49% compared to the current year. The proposed school budget aligns with the District’s Strategic Plan by introducing a new literacy program that aligns with the science of reading, expanding staff development opportunities, increasing social-emotional supports and services for students, and updating its website to strengthen communication.
The $11,100,000 proposition will be used to replace windows at the Alternative Learning Center in Maybrook, renovate Montgomery Elementary School with window replacements and a new gymnasium floor, replace tile flooring throughout East Coldenham Elementary School, and replace the water holding tank and install air conditioning in the cafeteria at the middle school. These capital project improvements will have no additional tax impact on residents as they will be funded by a combination of state building aid and the District’s fund balance.
The candidates elected to three-year terms on the board of education were: Robert Oakes, with 779 votes, Jane Samuelson, with 716 votes, and Diana Revoir with 708 votes.
Fast Facts:
- Proposed Budget: $133,800,000
- Budget to Budget Increase: 3.48%
- Proposed Tax Levy: 2.49%
The VCSD budget history which can be found here.
Proposition 2 to fund Capital Project 2025 passed by similar margins to the budget.
Three Board of Education members were elected each for a three-year term: Robert Oakes, Jane Samuelson, and Diana Revoir.
This budget maintains all programs for our students while staying under the tax cap and maximizing state aid. It is a fiscally responsible budget reducing the reliance on fund balance which ensures the future financial stability of the school district.
Sources of Revenue
- State Aid: $55,695,925 (42%)
- Tax Levy: $70,691,000 (53%)
- Other: $5,338,075 (5%)
Expenditures
Program Budget: $107,921,555 (81%)
The Program Budget includes: The salaries and benefits of all teachers, guidance counselors, aides, monitors, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and speech therapists. Also included are the costs associated with all the instruction and extra-curricular programs.
Capital Budget: $13,582,405 (10%)
The Capital Budget includes: Debt service on buildings; bus purchases; tax certiorari and court-ordered costs; and operations and maintenance costs including custodial staff.
Administrative Budget: $12,296,040 (9%)
The Administrative Budget includes: The salaries and benefits of all professional members who spend 50 percent or more of their time in administration and supervision. Also included are clerical staff; public information; curriculum development and supervision; research, planning, and evaluation; legal services; and school board-related costs.
The 2025-2026 Budget aligns with the District Strategic Goals.
- It aligns with the aspiration of Valley Central being rated in the top 5 schools in Orange County at the best value for the community.
- Valley Central provides quality education to the community’s children at the same time its per-pupil spending level is the third lowest in Orange County.