During the March 12 Rockland Central School Board of Education meeting, Interim Superintendent Keith Lewis offered an update on the 2026-27 school year budget, which is still a work in progress.

The $34.7 million preliminary budget is projected to be about a $2 million increase compared to the current school year budget. Several factors of the increase include approximately $1.1 million in principal and interest payments on past capital projects, as well as increases in health insurance, transportation, salaries and BOCES costs.

To reduce expenses and balance the budget, the district is exploring several options. Some of those options include issuing request for proposals (RFPs) for legal services, a reduction in seven staff positions district wide (some were budgeted and unfilled during the current school year), a decrease in supplies and equipment and other out of district expenditures in which RFPs could be administered. All other departments and functions of the district are also closely being reviewed for possible efficiencies. The district will be staffing a new STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math)/enrichment program in the elementary building for the 2026-27 school year.

Any impacted staff members will be informed sooner rather than later, Lewis said. “The district has a fiduciary responsibility to do what's in the best interest of everyone,” he said.

"We don't take any pride in letting anybody go," board member Roy Rogers said. "But if we keep all the positions ... we are already $2 million higher than last year."

Lewis and the board emphasized that it is important to not just look at the 2026-27 school year, but to plan accordingly when the additional aid provided by the merger is reduced and ultimately ends.

Lewis said that the preliminary budget would likely not be the final proposal put before the board of education for approval on April 21 and presented to the public for vote on May 19, noting there is still work to be done.

The preliminary tax levy is anticipated to be increased 4.48%, which would provide an additional $670,000 in revenue to help offset the increased costs. 

The next board meeting will be held for the purposes of entering into an executive session on March 30, with the next regular board meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 7 in the Rockland Middle/High School auditorium at 19 School St. in Livingston Manor