ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y.—The $276.4 million Middletown School District 2025–2026 budget has been approved by a public vote on May 20. The tax levy will increase by 1.99 percent.
It saw an increase in funding of $13.7 million compared to the 2024–2025 budget. The 1.99 percent tax levy increase will result in a total tax levy of $74.6 million, about $1.5 million higher than last year.
The school district gets 27 percent of its funds from property taxes. The remaining 70 percent comes from state proceeds.
School spending is split into three categories: capital, administrative, and programming.
Capital is about 15 percent of spending, about $42 million, and encompasses operating costs like utility bills and debt payments. The capital budget is up $2 million from last year.
Administrative spending is about 12 percent of school district spending. This money funds the board of education, curriculum development, and other administrative costs. This year’s administrative budget is also up about $2 million, now sitting at $32.7 million.
The programming budget is the biggest, making up 72.8 percent of spending. The biggest part of that budget is pay and benefits for teachers, counselors, and other school staff. Transportation and athletics also fall in this category. The total program budget is $201.3 million.
Several categories make up the majority of additional spending this year. Regular instruction, which includes teachers’ salaries, school supplies, and classroom equipment, increased by $3 million. Spending on students with disabilities increased by $2 million. Transportation spending increased by $2 million. Debt service spending increased by $1.5 million.
The budget passed the public vote with 574 “yes” votes and 173 “no” votes. Two other propositions passed with similar voting numbers.
One proposition was to establish a $20 million capital fund reserve. The money in it would go toward building and renovations.
Another proposition was to authorize the improvement and reconstruction of school buildings. The estimated costs come to $45.6 million.
Middletown School District has about 7,500 students, according to community liaison Kevin Witt. The spending per student in the district has reached about $36,800 annually, which is above the state spending average of $33,437 per pupil. New York has the highest average spending per pupil among U.S. states.
Three people were also elected to the Board of Education. John Williams, Rose Tobiassen, and Patricia DeJesus will serve three-year unpaid terms before going up for reelection again. Deymiss Caraballo was one of the four candidates that was not elected.
