Budget

Yes. The District is proposing a tax levy increase of 1.85%, which is within the state-mandated cap. 

• Preserves high-quality academic programs and services;
• Maintains small class sizes and kindergarten teaching assistants, Rockland BOCES CTEC seats for our Tappan Zee High School students;
• Supports ongoing implementation of the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) phonics and word study curriculum;
• Preserves enrichment, extracurriculars, clubs and elective opportunities, along with robust summer programming; and,
• Maximizes the District’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten grant funding allocation to add a second UPK class at William O. Schaefer Elementary School. 

Proposition # 2: Use of Capital Reserve Funds
Shall the Board of Education of the South Orangetown Central School District, Rockland County, New York (the “Board”) be authorized to construct a multipurpose athletic field at Tappan Zee High School, including equipment, site work and associated work in connection therewith, at a maximum estimated cost of $ 7,950,000 with the amount of $7,950,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund 2024, hereby authorized to be expended to pay for the cost of the Project, and such expenditure and the transfer of such funds are hereby approved.

Proposition # 3: Funding the Repair Reserve
Shall the Board of Education of the South Orangetown Central School District be authorized to fund the repair reserve fund established by the Board of Education pursuant to the provisions of Section 6-d of the General Municipal Law, by transferring unappropriated, unassigned fund balance in the general fund at the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years to the repair reserve fund, with the amount of funds in the repair reserve fund not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time.

The proposed budget is 1.21% higher than the current year budget. Transportation, health insurance and contractual obligations continue to be key cost drivers.

If voters do not approve the proposed budget, the Board of Education may put forward the same or a revised budget for a second vote OR adopt a contingency budget with a tax levy no greater than what was levied in the current year. If voters reject the spending plan twice, SOCSD must adopt a contingency budget which would require the District to reduce the proposed 2026-27 budget by $1,963,318. As a result, the minor capital project and equipment expenditures would be eliminated. Community use of facilities would be restricted and additional expenses considered non-contingent by the Board of Education can be further reduced to meet contingency budget legal parameters.

The 2025-26 budget totals $115,289,084 and reflects a 2.31% tax levy increase, which is within the maximum allowable tax levy. 

• 2025-26 Budget Newsletter: English | Spanish
• 2025-26 Budget Book

The South Orangetown Central School District 2024-25 school budget passed with nearly 75% of the vote on May 21, 2024. The 2024-25 budget totals $110,595,035 and reflects a 1.5% tax levy increase, which is within the maximum allowable tax levy.

In addition, voters approved Proposition 2 to establish and fund a new capital reserve fund and Proposition 3, which authorizes the use of existing capital reserve funds to remove and replace two boilers at Tappan Zee High School.

• 2024-25 Budget Newsletter: English | Spanish
• 2024-25 Budget Book

The South Orangetown Central School District 2023-2024 school budget passed with 70% of the vote on May 16, 2023. The 2023-24 budget totals $108,815,021, reflects a 7.15% budget-to-budget increase and remains within the state-mandated tax cap with a 2.08% tax levy increase.

• 2023-24 Budget Newsletter: English | Spanish
• 2023-24 Budget Book

The South Orangetown Central School District 2022-2023 school budget passed with 67% of the vote on May 17, 2022. The approved budget totaled $101,554,865 and reflected a 3.41% budget-to-budget increase and a 2.77% tax levy increase. The budget remained within the state-mandated tax cap.

Voters also approved Proposition #2, which extended the time period for the District’s existing Capital Reserve Fund by 10 years (through 2036) and increased the ultimate amount of the Fund by $10,000,000 to offset future capital projects.

• 2022-23 Budget Newsletter: English | Spanish
• 2022-23 Budget Book