KEENE VALLEY — The Keene Central School District board unanimously approved a $9,321,781 budget on Tuesday, April 15, for the coming 2025-26 school year. This budget is a 7.9% increase from last year’s budget of $8,638,917 and will exceed the tax cap.

The tax levy for 2025-26 will be $7,510,993, which is an increase of 4.65%. The allowed tax levy increase for KCSD this year was 3.03%, according to Superintendent Dan Mayberry. Because the budget goes above the tax cap, it will need to be approved by a supermajority of voters, or 60%, instead of a simple majority.

The town of Keene recently went through a reassessment, and Mayberry said he doesn’t yet have access to enough information to give an estimated tax rate. He hopes to have one ready for the budget meetings in May.

Mayberry said the budget includes a new special education teacher position to “address the needs of our current population and meet their legally required service needs.” There is also a proposed library media specialist position, which involves shifting the current position of a retiring staff member.

The district typically receives about $800,000 in federal and state funds. The state has not yet passed its budget, which was due April 1, so local school districts do not know how much money they will receive from the state as of now.

There will be a budget hearing on Tuesday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m., in the school’s auditorium at 33 Market St, Keene Valley, with child care provided. An additional community budget discussion will be held on Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. This meeting is “to give the community another opportunity to discuss KCS, our budget, and ask questions to get informed about the school, our budget and/or the upcoming vote,” according to Mayberry.

In addition to the budget, voters will also weigh in on two vacant seats on the school board. Current board members Jen Kazmierczak and Molly Jacobson have terms ending this summer. Story Bellows and Lauren Ruppert are both running for a board seat.