2026-2027 Budget

Mount Vernon City School District Budget Calendar 2026-2027

DATE                   ACTIVITIES

November 2025

• November 4, 2025: Present 2026 budget calendar and budget development procedures; Superintendent's Budget Priorities to the Board of Education for adoption
• November 25, 2025: Board of Education Business Meeting
• November 26, 2025: Meet with budget and finance committee and or Board of Education (on parameters)

December 2025

• December 2, 2025: Board of Education Work Session
• December 8 - 12, 2025: Meet with budget builders and distribute budget guidelines; Community Budget Stakeholders
• December 15 - 19, 2025: Budget due from Staff to the Business Office (December 16)

January 2026

• January 13, 2026: Superintendent Preliminary Budget Process Presentation
• January 17, 2027: Community Budget Public Forum (MVPL) Saturday Morning
• January 20, 2026: Community Budget Public Forum -- Evening; Governor's budget state aid run
• January 20 - 23, 2026: Department Budget Presentation to Executive Team & State Monitor
• January 27, 2026: Operational budget recommendations due
• January 28, 2026: Budget and Finance Committee

February 2026

• February 2, 2026: Community Budget Public Forum
• February 10, 2026: Balanced budget completed by Cabinet
• February 24, 2026: Superintendent Budget Presentation to the Board; Appointment of Election Inspectors for Budget Vote 
• February 25, 2026: Budget Due to State Monitor

March 2026

• March 2, 2026: Balanced Budget to the State Monitor for SED Submission; Draft Budget Book; Submit 2026-27 calculation for Tax Levy Limit to NYS Comptroller, Tax and Finance and SED 
• March 10, 2026: State Monitor's Budget Presentation
• March 24, 2026: Board adopts Budget for 2026-2027 (Last date NYSED to adopt Budget April 24th)
• March 31, 2026: Final Budget book available to public and delivered

April 2026

• Friday, April 3, 2026: Post first of four required legal notices of budget hearing and vote 
• Tuesday, April 7, 2026: Adopt Proposed 2026-27 Budget by Board of Education (4/27/26 - Last Date)
• Tuesday, April 21, 2026: SW BOCES Administrative Budget and Trustee(s) Vote
• Thursday, April 23, 2026: Post second of four required legal notices of budget hearing and vote 
• Friday, April 24, 2026: Property Tax Report Card (Last Date to Submit to NYS 4/27/2026)
• Monday, April 27, 2026: Transmit to SED NYS Property Tax Report Card and local newspapers of Property Tax Report Card 
• Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Board of Education Business Meeting
• Wednesday, April 29, 2026: Petitions for Board of Education candidates due by 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, April 30, 2026: Selection of Candidates' Placement on the Ballot at 4:00 p.m. - Education Center

May 2026

• Tuesday, May 5, 2026: Voter Registration Day (last date) 
• Tuesday, May 5, 2026: District-Wide Budget Hearing at 6:00 p.m. - Education Center; Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. 
• Friday, May 8, 2026: Post third of four required legal notices of budget hearing and vote 
• May 5-19, 2026: Budget Statement and Attachments available upon request 
• Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Absentee & Early Mail ballot applications must be received if ballots are to be mailed
• Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Post fourth of four required legal notices of budget hearing and vote 
• Wednesday, May 13, 2026: Required Budget Notice and Budget Newsletter mailed (Last Date May 13, 2026) 
• Tuesday, May 19, 2026: Annual Meeting (VOTE for Budget and Proposition(s) and elect Board)
• Tuesday, May 19, 2026: Board of Education meets to accept results of Annual Election
• Tuesday, May 26, 2026: Board of Education Business Meeting

June 2026

• Tuesday, June 9, 2026: Board of Education Work Session
• Tuesday, June 16, 2026: Statewide Budget Revote Day
• Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Board of Education Business Meeting

July 2026

• Tuesday, July 1, 2026: Start of 2026-27 Budget Year
   

1. What fiscal challenges does the District face and what is it doing to address them?
   
   The District has been labeled by the New York State Comptroller as being in significant fiscal stress for the past six years. In six of the last seven school years, the District has had an operating deficit, and since 2019, the District utilized its fund balance to balance the budget. Factors for fiscal stress include aging buildings with millions of dollars in repairs noted in the building condition survey, increasing transportation and energy costs, and Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) agreements reducing tax revenues. The District also spent $13.7 million in charter school tuition during the 2025-26 school year, and that is expected to rise to $17.5 million. A history of low tax levy increases has limited the District’s ability to produce a balanced budget each year.
   
   Another challenge is that the District hasn’t spent grants correctly in past years and was required to send the money back. To correct this, the District will find areas that it can spend grant and Title funds instead of using general funds. An Executive Director of Strategic Development was also hired to support grant proposal development and grant coordination.
   
   To address challenges, new stopgaps and procedures were put in place. These include guidelines for overtime, timekeeping, and requesting time off. With clear systems in place, the District can monitor and limit its expenses and ensure sound, responsible spending.
    
2. Do we anticipate a tax increase?
   
   The proposed tax levy increase, which will be voted on May 19, is 1.99%. The proposed budget has an increase of $4 million in expenses, and additional funds from the tax levy would support high-level priorities such as special education, bilingual education, Gifted & Talented and enrichment programs, athletics, Career and Technical Education, Technology, facilities and safety and security.
    
3. How does the closing of schools affect the budget?
   
   With money saved from closing schools, the District has been paying back past bills from last year and the year before and balancing past deficit budgets. Costs such as healthcare and energy prices are rising due to a colder winter and international markets, resulting in more funds being committed to those areas. The District’s long-term goal is to develop unique programs such as a Montessori school.
    
4. What Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities will be available?
   
   CTE usually starts in 7th grade, and students will be mandated to take Career and Financial literacy. At Mount Vernon High School, there are eight NYSED approved graduation pathways (Culinary Arts, Automotive Technology, Barbering, Cosmetology, Graphic Arts Design, Cybersecurity, and Nursing Assistant). The District is exploring CTE pathways at DWSA, such as stage construction, to submit for approval to NYSED.
   
   Increased student enrollment in CTE programs would make the District eligible for the Perkins Grant, which it has not had in past years due to the CTE program not being large enough.
    
5. How does the District plan to balance equity for students with disabilities in elementary schools?
   
   When placing students in classes before the year starts, the District will begin with the special education continuum, and then all other students will be placed in their classes. The District is also preparing to offer more than one type of special education service for buildings. When a school has different levels of special education such as integrated co-teaching and self-contained classes, it allows for students to move between classes without needing to move to a different school. This would make it easier to move students from the most restrictive to least restrictive environment as they progress.
    
6. How is the District working to improve student technology?
   
   A technology maintenance plan is being developed. Technology needs to be maintained well due to its short shelf life, and the District is looking for solutions to keep its devices in good condition.
    
7. How is the District finding creative funding solutions?
   
   The District needs to start spending grant and Title funds correctly, so that funds are not sent back before being used. To rectify grant processes, an Executive Director of Strategic Development was hired to ensure the District is receiving the maximum amount of funds and utilizing them correctly.
   
   The District is also looking for efficiencies with what is available within the budget, so that it can continue to improve the quality and financial stability of schools with existing resources. It is important to find long-term solutions, especially with facilities, since short-term solutions are more costly in the long-term. 
    
8. After balancing the budget - how long would it take to achieve the District’s priorities?
   
   Sustainable change will be possible with consistency, so not all priorities will be met right away. Whenever there is turnover, it disrupts the entire system, so it is important to see sustainable growth before all goals are met. This budget would put the District in a position to make steady improvements that will support scholars immediately.
    
9. How will savings help the District in the long term? Will we see a large increase despite savings?
   
   Once past deficit budgets and bills are balanced and paid, the District will be able to commit savings to academic programs and student services. A 1.99% tax levy increase will be required to fund all the programs and services in the proposed budget.
    
10. How is the District working to improve the bond rating? 
    
    The District is working to improve bond ratings by:
    1. Stabilizing the financial trajectory by:
       1. Adopting a structurally balanced budget
       2. Working to eliminate one-time fixes such as deferrals, interfund borrowing to cover operations
    2. Rebuild fund balance and liquidity
       1. Targeting to move away from reliance on TANs and RANs
       2. Targeting to restore unrestricted fund balance
    3. Fix financial processes
       1. Segregation of duties
       2. Developing standardized operating procedures
       3. Monthly financial reports to the Board
    4. Improve audits
       1. Reduce repeat audit findings
       2. Address material weaknesses
       3. Improve Corrective Action Plan execution
    5. Strengthen governance
       1. Formally update financial policies through the board
       2. Reduce leadership turnover without transition plans

Legal Notice Publication Dates are: April 3, April 23, May 8, and May 12, 2026

NOTICE OF THE DISTRICT-WIDE BUDGET HEARING AND ANNUAL SCHOOL BOARD/BUDGET VOTE ELECTION OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, AND THE MOUNT VERNON PUBLIC LIBRARY 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Time and Place of Voting: District-Wide Budget Hearing: Voter Registration; Absentee Ballots; Early Vote Ballots; Military Ballots; Final Date for Receiving Petitions of Nominations and Filing of School Election Registers.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the Annual School Board/Budget Vote Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; for the purpose of electing three (3) members of the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of Mount Vernon, New York, to serve for a full term of three (3) years, beginning the first day of July, 2026, and expiring on the thirtieth day of June, 2029; and for the purpose of electing one (1) member of the Board of Trustees of the Mount Vernon Public Library to serve one (1) five (5) year term beginning on the first day of July, 2026 and expiring on the thirtieth day of June, 2031.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the public hearing on the school budget shall be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Education Center located at 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN residents may review a copy of the budget which will be placed on the District’s website, during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the date of the election.

A Real Property Tax Exemption Report prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any proposed budget as well as the final adopted budget of which it will form a part; and shall be posted on the District bulletin board maintained for public notices, as well as on the District’s website.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the final date for receiving petitions of nominations for candidates for the Members of the Board of Education of the City of Mount Vernon, New York, three (3) members to serve for a full term of three (3) years, beginning on July 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2029; and for the purpose of electing one (1) member of the Board of Trustees of the Mount Vernon Public Library to serve one (1) five (5) year term beginning on July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2031, is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, or sooner, in the Office of the District Clerk, at the Education Center, 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York.

Nominating petitions are now available in the Office of the District Clerk.

Drawing for Placement on the Ballot will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., in the Office of the District Clerk.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the Office of the District Clerk, located in the Administrative Offices of the Mount Vernon City School District, 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York 10553. An application for an absentee and early mail ballot on the form prescribed by the New York State Board of Elections must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the Annual Election. Such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the Annual Election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the Annual Budget Vote/Election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely application for a mailed absentee and early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address designated on the application by no later than six (6) days before the Annual Election.

No absentee and early mail voter’s ballot will be counted unless it is received in the Office of the District Clerk of the City School District of the City of Mount Vernon, 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

Qualifications for Absentee Ballot Applications:

A qualified voter may vote as an absentee voter under this section, if during all the hours of voting on the day of an election he or she will be:

1. Absent from the county of his or her residence; or
2. Unable to appear at the polling place because of illness or physical disability, or duties related to the primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled; or
3. An inmate for any reason other than conviction of a felony (Education Law §§2018-a; 2018-b) or patient of a veteran’s administration hospital; or
4. Absent from his or her voting residence because he or she is detained in jail.
5. Voters with permanent disabilities, registration records should be marked so that they automatically receive absentee ballots for each election (Education Law §§2018-a(2)(g), 2018-b(2)(g).

Qualifications for Early Mail Ballot Applications:

1. A qualified voter must be a citizen of the U.S.;
2. 18 years of age;
3. A resident of the district for at least 30 days prior to the meeting; and not otherwise prohibited under Election Law §5-106 (Education Law § 2012)

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the Board of Registration of the City School District of the City of Mount Vernon shall meet to prepare the School Election District Registers for the Annual School Election on May 5, 2026, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Education Center, 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York. Any person, who is not already registered, upon proving his/her entitlement to vote in the District, may have his/her name placed on the Register. The Register containing the names of the qualified voters will be available for inspection in the District Clerk’s Office during each of the five days prior to the election between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

IN ORDER TO VOTE IN THE ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION, READ CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:

IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REGISTER FOR THIS COMING SCHOOL ELECTION

1. If you were registered but have changed your place of residence since that time.
2. If you were not registered under PERMANENT PERSONAL REGISTRATION.
3. If you now have acquired or by May 5th will have acquired the required qualifications to vote in the forthcoming School Election under the qualifications of voters listed below:

The qualifications for voting are:

1. A citizen of the United States.
2. 18 years of age or over.
3. A resident of New York State and the City School District of the City of Mount Vernon for at least 30 days preceding the Election.

DATE OF REGISTRATION

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026, BETWEEN THE HOURS 11:00 A.M. AND 5:00 P.M., IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE EDUCATION CENTER, 165 NORTH COLUMBUS AVENUE, MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual School Board/Budget Vote Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for three (3) members to serve for a full term of three (3) years, beginning on July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029; and for the purpose of electing one (1) member of the Board of Trustees of the Mount Vernon Public Library to serve one (1) five (5) year term beginning on July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2031.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that an accurate description of the boundaries of the School Election District into which the City School District of the City of Mount Vernon is divided, is on file and may be inspected at the Office of the District Clerk, 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York. The public schools where such Election will be held are as follows:

DISTRICT NO.	NAME AND LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES
1	Lincoln School, 170 East Lincoln Avenue
5	Hamilton School, 20 Oak Street
6	Traphagen School, 72 Lexington Avenue
7	Edward Williams School, 9 Union Lane
9	Graham School, 21 East 5th Street
11	Pennington School, 20 Fairway
14	Rebecca Turner Academy, 625 South Fourth Avenue
22	Grimes School, 58 South 10th Avenue

Budget/Election Information will be available on the website at:
www.mtvernoncsd.org/our-district/budget in multiple languages.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 5, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be no later than the day before the election.

By Order of the Board of Education
Of the City School District of the City of Mount Vernon, New York
Rita James, District Clerk

You may register any weekday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the District Clerk's Office, located at the Education Center, 165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon NY.

Absentee and Early Mail Ballots 

Absentee and early mail ballot applications are available at the District Clerk's Office at the District Office during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). or click to download an absentee ballot application here, an early mail ballot application here, an absentee ballot application in Spanish here or an early mail ballot application in Spanish here. Absentee and early mail ballot applications should be submitted in their original form, with the original signature on it.

An application for an absentee and early mail ballot on the form prescribed by the New York State Board of Elections must be received by the District Clerk by Tuesday, May 12, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Upon receiving a timely application for a mailed absentee and early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address designated on the application. Absentee and early mail voter’s ballots must be received in the Office of the District Clerk by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Qualifications of Voters

A person shall be entitled to vote at any school meeting for the election of school district officers and upon all other matters, which may be brought before such meeting, who is: 

1. A citizen of the United States. 
2. Eighteen years of age. 
3. A resident within the District for a period of 30 days next preceding the meeting at which he offers to vote. 
4. A registered voter of the District and/or a registered voter of Westchester County whose name appears on the list supplied by the Westchester County Board of Elections as having voted in a national, state, or county election during the past four years.

Becoming a Trustee

Commitment to Public Education

A school board member takes on one of the most important citizen responsibilities: overseeing the education of the community’s youth. In these challenging times for public education, school boards are seeking men and women who find excitement and satisfaction in confronting tough challenges and working collegially to rise above them and help students in their communities succeed.

The Board of Education is a uniquely American institution. It oversees and manages the community’s public school system. It ensures the public schools are flexible and responsive to the needs of the community.  School boards are composed of volunteers within the community who dedicate their time to better public education. Except for those in Yonkers and New York City, board members are elected.

The size of a school board depends on the type of school district but generally ranges between three and nine members. With limited exceptions, school board members serve three-, four- or five-year terms. Terms are staggered so all board positions are never open at the same time. Voters have the power to change the size of the board as set forth within the law.

Responsibilities of a Board Member

With schoolchildren always their ultimate focus, school board members act officially at the board table, working with other board members to serve students and accomplish the following:

• Create a shared vision for the future of education
• Set the direction of the school district to achieve the highest student performance
• Provide rigorous accountability for student  achievement results
• Develop a budget and present it to the community, aligning district resources to improve achievement
• Support a healthy school district culture for work and learning
• Create strategic partnerships with the community stakeholders
• Build the district’s progress through continuous improvement
• Adopt and maintain current policies
• Hire and evaluate the superintendent
• Ratify collective bargaining agreements
• Maintain strong ethical standards

Characteristics of a Board Member

Below are attributes that all effective board members should possess.

• Effective Communicator: Can describe what he or she wants and describe what others want; a good listener
• Consensus Builder: Capable of working toward decisions that all can support and willing to compromise to achieve goals
• Community Participant: Enjoys meeting a variety of people, can identify the community’s key communicators and reaches out to the community
• Decision Maker: Is comfortable making decisions and can support group decision-making
• Information Processor: Can organize priorities and schedules to handle large amounts of verbal and written information
• Leader: Willing to take risks, be supportive of board colleagues, district staff and community
• Team Player: Helps promote the board’s vision and goals

Running for Your Local School Board

Once you have made the commitment to run for your local school board, there are requirements, deadlines, and processes that must be adhered to.

Eligibility Requirements

Generally, school board candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, qualified voters in the school district and able to read and write. They must be residents of their districts continuously for one year (as little as 30 days or as long as three years in some city school districts) before the election. At the time when the board member takes office, they cannot be employed by the board on which they serve or live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board.

Nominating Petitions

The requirements for filing nominating petitions for a school board vary depending upon the type of school district. Generally, candidates must submit a nominating petition to the school district clerk. The petition must be signed by at least 25 qualified district voters or two percent of the number of those who voted in the previous annual election, whichever number is greater. In small city school districts, nominating petitions must be signed by at least 100 qualified voters.

The petition must include the following:

• Candidate’s name and residence
• Vacancy in question
• Incumbent’s name (if any)
• Residences of the persons who signed the petition
• Length of the term of office for which the candidate is being nominated

Blank petitions are often available from the district clerk. If a school district runs for seats “at large” such that each nominee is eligible for each vacancy, the nominating petition does not need to identify the specific incumbent’s seat the nominee is seeking. This petition must be filed with the district clerk at least 30 days (20 days in small city districts) before the election meeting, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Campaigning

Once the petition is filed, the next step is to gather support. State law requires all candidates for election to a board of education to file a sworn statement with the district clerk disclosing their campaign expenses. Statements must be filed at three different times during the election period. If expenditures made by the candidate or by others on the candidate’s behalf exceed $500, a statement also should be filed with the commissioner of education. Expenditures of not more than $25 may be made without the candidate’s permission if the donor or donors file a sworn statement with the clerk and the commissioner stating that the candidate did not approve the expenditure. Details concerning these requirements may be obtained from your district clerk or from the Performance Improvement and Management Services (PIMS) and Chief Financial Office (CFO), New York State Education Department, Albany, NY 12234.

Election

By state law, school board and budget elections, in all districts except the Big 5 (Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers), must be held on the third Tuesday in May. In 2026, the budget vote and election occurs on May 19.

New York State School Boards Association

If you are elected, you don’t need to face this new challenge alone. The New York State School Boards Association is here to help you! The New York State School Boards Association

(NYSSBA) was founded in 1896 in Utica, New York. With over 100 years of commitment, NYSSBA serves as the statewide voice of more than 650 boards of education.

The Association provides current information and advice on matters affecting school boards and works with other educational and related organizations in promoting excellence in public education. Consistent with our dedication to children, learning and the community, the Association provides advocacy, information, leadership development and custom services to public school boards.

Training

Once elected, you will be required by New York State law to fulfill mandatory training within your first year of service. This includes fiscal oversight training and governance skills training. NYSSBA provides convenient online courses and regional academies to fulfill these requirements and to further your knowledge of public education and your responsibilities as a board member.