Budget Articles and Community Info

A contingency budget would have a significant impact on students, families, and the broader community because it requires the district to reduce spending and limit services. 

If the budget is voted down a second time, the Board of Education must adopt a contingency budget for the next school year. 

Under a contingency budget: 

• The district’s tax levy is very limited, typically staying at or below last year’s level, with no increase allowed for things like inflation or other adjustments. 

• The district must make additional cuts to balance the budget. 

• Some non-essential spending is restricted, such as certain equipment purchases.

View budget area profiles and expenditure overviews for the 2026-27 proposed budget here! The community will revote on the budget on Tuesday, June 16. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Click here to find your polling place.

A second vote is required when the proposed school budget is not approved by voters on the first vote. 

By law, the Board of Education has two options after a failed vote: 

• Present the same budget again, or 

• Revise the budget and present an updated proposal 

The district chose to hold a second vote to give the community another opportunity to consider a budget that reflects feedback and adjustments made after the first vote. 

If the budget is not approved on the second vote, the district must adopt a contingency budget, and the budget cannot go back to voters again.

New York State limits how much unrestricted savings (called unassigned fund balance) a school district can carry into the next year to 4% of the upcoming year’s budget. This allows districts to maintain a modest financial cushion but prevents holding excess funds beyond that level. 

The District began the year with an unassigned fund balance of $2,743,828, which is approximately 1.01% of the current year’s adopted budget of $272,206,615. 

As of the end of May, the District has an available budget balance of $10,398,985; however, significant remaining expenditures are still expected before year-end. After accounting for these costs, the District projects ending the year with an unassigned fund balance below $6 million. 

No, the District does not have a $14.8 million net positive position. 

As of April 30, 2026, the appropriations report shows a Current Budget of $273.25 million, with $191.74 million in Paid Invoices, $66.70 million in Planned Spend, and $13.56 million in Available Budget. The $14.8 million figure is incorrect because the report does not include Requested Spend, which represents funds already committed through purchase requests but not yet reflected in Planned Spend. These commitments reduce what is truly available. To improve clarity, the District will include Requested Spend in future appropriations reports.  

Yes. The April 7, 2026, Work Session included Agenda Item 10.5, which addressed the approval of general fund transfers. The full budget transfer package was sent to Board members on April 6, 2026, the day before the meeting, so they had time to review it in advance.  

The package contained detailed financial information about how funds would be adjusted. While the public agenda included a short description, the full details were provided in the attached document, not in the brief agenda summary. 

Yes. The City of Mount Vernon fully paid its obligations for the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 school years. 

The repayment was governed by two legally binding agreements that together resolved the full amount owed. A Stipulation of Partial Settlement dated September 26, 2023, established a base tax liability of $11,734,627, and a Stipulation of Settlement as to Interest dated April 30, 2024, established interest of $2,112,233. 

No, the District did not realize $17 million in actual, recurring savings from closing the three school buildings. 

The $17 million figure reflected the total cost of operating those schools prior to closure, including all staffing and operating expenses. However, when a school closes, those costs do not simply disappear. Students are reassigned to other buildings, and most instructional staff move with them. As a result, a large portion of those costs remains in the system. 

Using 2024–2025 budget data, the District completed a detailed analysis to estimate what costs could realistically be reduced. This analysis shows that approximately $6.8 million in annual savings is a reasonable and supportable estimate, not $17 million. 

If the Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 budget is voted down a second time on June 16, the Board of Education would be required by state law to adopt a contingency budget. School districts must adhere to strict state statutory regulations under a contingency budget. Contingency budgets enforce strict caps on spending on only essential, legally mandated expenses such as salaries and benefits, legal and contractual obligations, health and safety, and mandated operations. They also prevent any purchases of non-essential equipment and do not allow community use of buildings that require paying staff or additional utility costs. 

Following the announcement of final state aid numbers, the revised budget for the Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 school year includes an additional $136,862 in state aid over the initial proposed budget that was voted down on May 19. The initial budget included a conservative estimate for state aid, which was not finalized until after the budget vote. Foundation Aid will include a 2% increase, which is higher than expected. This increase allowed the district to further lower the tax levy after making cuts.  

The revised 2026-27 school year budget will go to voters on Tuesday, June 16, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit our budget webpage for more information: https://www.mtvernoncsd.org/budget 

The revised 2026-27 budget for the Mount Vernon City School District makes investments to improve priority areas such as technology, school safety and wellness supports. It also makes improvements to academic areas with enhanced bilingual support, continued CTE pathways and additional math support specialists. The spending plan provides expanded opportunities for students, ensuring continued academic improvement.

The revised 2026-27 school year budget will go to voters on Tuesday, June 16, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit our budget webpage for more information at https://www.mtvernoncsd.org/budget

The Mount Vernon City School District’s revised budget for the 2026-27 school year protects investments in bilingual education, athletics, arts, music, clubs, counseling, safety, technology, career pathways and gifted & talented. Families will see investments in technology, school safety and wellness supports, as well as expanded bilingual supports, continued CTE pathways and additional math support specialists. 

The revised 2026-27 school year budget will go to voters on Tuesday, June 16, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit our budget webpage for more information.

The revised budget for the Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 school year increases spending by only 1.2% from the previous budget. For comparison, the Consumer Price Index inflation rate was 3.81% from April 2025 to April 2026, per the United State Congress Joint Economic Committee. Inflation impacts school districts, making it more costly to provide services to students and the community. 

The revised 2026-27 school year budget will go to voters on Tuesday, June 16, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit our budget webpage for more information.

The Mount Vernon City School District’s revised budget for the 2026-27 school year, which will go to voters on Tuesday, June 16, reduces spending by $699,293 from the initial proposed budget that was voted down on May 19. It also reduces the proposed tax levy increase to 1.5% from 1.99%. Reductions were made without reducing any student, family or community services.

Mount Vernon residents can vote in the upcoming budget vote on Tuesday, June 16 through absentee and early mail ballots. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the District Clerk’s office (165 North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York) by Tuesday, June 9, if ballots are to be mailed to the voter. Absentee ballots and early mail ballots can be picked up in the Office of the District Clerk until Monday, June 15. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received in the Office of the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the election.

The Mount Vernon Board of Education adopted a revised budget for the 2026-27 school year at its Tuesday meeting. The budget will be presented to the community for a vote on June 16, 2026. The $275,542,563 spending plan includes a 1.5% increase to the tax levy, which would allow the District to pay for increased expenses related to staff salaries and insurance benefits, maintain academic programs and continue all athletic and extracurricular offerings.

Click here to view the revised budget presentation.

Dr. Demario Strickland, Superintendent of Schools: 

Tonight, the Mount Vernon community did not support the $276.2 million 2026-2027 school year budget with an unofficial vote of 768-887. We will carefully consider our options and announce next steps in the upcoming days. The proposed budget was developed with the goal of maintaining academic and extracurricular initiatives such as athletics, as well as hiring additional math teachers and making enhancements to bilingual education and world languages. We will continue our work towards improving the Mount Vernon City School District and providing a valuable education.

Since the 2016-17 school year, the Mount Vernon City School District has increased the levy by only 4.69%. The proposed 1.99% tax levy increase would bring that to 6.68%. For comparison, the White Plains City School District has increased by 16.84%, the City School District of New Rochelle has risen 20.57%, and the Pelham Union Free Central School District has raised the levy by 24.64% during the same time period. These districts are also requesting tax increases this year to balance their budgets, with White Plains proposing 1.60%, New Rochelle 1.85% and Pelham 3.72%.

The annual budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can find more information on our budget page or by reviewing the budget book.

The proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year, which Mount Vernon voters will consider on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, includes $40 million in special education spending, an increase of 25% from the current school year. 

Click here to view the budget book and read more about goals and spending details in special education. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 budget includes increased investments in world languages and bilingual education. It funds a new Director of Bilingual Education and World Languages to strengthen services for more than 600 English language learners (ELL) and to support growing dual-language programming.

You can read more about investments in Bilingual Education and World Languages by reviewing the budget book and the budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the spending plan. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The 2026-27 Mount Vernon City School District budget will be decided on by Mount Vernon voters on Tuesday, May 19. Check out this video message from Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland, explaining just how important it is to come out to vote. Visit our website, where you can find the budget book with detailed spending information, to learn more about the budget! You can also find your polling place and other important voting information on the budget page of our site. You can read more about the expenses in the budget by reviewing the budget book (tinyurl.com/mrysvt9k) and the budget newsletter (tinyurl.com/yphzefp8), which provide a comprehensive overview of the spending plan.

The Mount Vernon City School District is committed to delivering rigorous, robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, with multiple career pathways available for students after graduation. The 2026-27 budget ensures that students have a breadth of opportunities to get a head start on their professional journeys in eight state-approved CTE graduation pathways. 

The Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 budget returns Gifted & Talented and enrichment opportunities to scholars, which were highlighted as a priority by the Mount Vernon community. These programs help reinforce students’ learning, provide them with tools to succeed academically, and prepare them to reach their postsecondary goals.

You can learn more about programs funded in the Mount Vernon City School District’s budget by clicking here to view the budget book and clicking here to view the budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the 2026-27 budget. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. 

The 2026-2027 Mount Vernon City School District budget begins to address the over $400 million in facility repairs identified in the most recent building condition survey. Facilities spending will increase by 5.8%, with the department working to ensure safety and security, support flexibility, promote effective classroom design, maximize resource efficiency, and sustain long-range planning. 

You can read more about facilities expenses by reviewing the budget book and budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the 2026-27 budget. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The 2026-27 Mount Vernon City School District budget includes a 25% increase in special education spending for a total of approximately $40 million. Twenty-one percent of students in the District have disabilities, and 10 percent are English language learners – who also require additional services.

You can read more about the special education spending by reviewing the budget book and budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the 2026-27 budget. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The Mount Vernon City School District is working to align staffing numbers with declining enrollment trends, and staffing has decreased from a high of 1,984 staff members in 2018-19 to 1,522 in 2025-26. District administrators will continue to look for efficiencies to ensure staffing levels are in accordance with student needs. 

You can read more about the budget by reviewing the budget book and budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the spending plan. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

While the Mount Vernon City School District is affected by declining enrollment – which is impacting school districts across the state – it is facing higher expenses due to special education costs that continue to grow with student need and charter school tuition obligations driven by enrollment. Approximately $17.5 million is budgeted for charter school tuition, and those students are not included in enrollment numbers. 

You can read more about the budget by reviewing the budget book and budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the spending plan. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

It is my honor to present the proposed 2026 to 2027 budget for the Mount Vernon City School District. This budget totals $276,241,856, reflecting a 1.50 percent increase over the prior year budget of $272,206,615. The $276.2 million dollar budget reflects a 1.99% increase to the tax levy. It is a responsible and purposeful plan, shaped by the realities of a lean fund balance and guided by an unwavering commitment to our students, families, and community.

The Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 budget includes $17.5 million sent to charter schools for over 850 students, or 6.3% of expenses, creating a funding deficiency. While the students do not attend MVCSD schools or impact enrollment numbers, the District is still responsible for funding their education, which impacts overall expenses and planning.

You can read more about the expenses in the budget by reviewing the budget book and budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the spending plan. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 budget makes significant investments to academic priorities to support students and instructional goals, despite fiscal constraints. The District has held a designation of ‘significant fiscal distress’ from the New York State Comptroller’s Office for the past six years, but improvements to financial oversight and planning have been underway all school year, leading to a budget that maps the path to fiscal stability.

You can read more about the budget by clicking here to view the budget book and clicking here to view the budget newsletter, which provide a comprehensive overview of the spending plan. The budget vote will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

The Mount Vernon City School District's 2026-27 budget provides students with a variety of engaging activities including athletics, extracurriculars and art. These programs allow students the opportunity to explore interests beyond the classroom while discovering their passions. With dozens of clubs and organizations, along with 15 varsity sports across 23 varsity teams, there is a plethora of engaging and enriching roads students can take.

The proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year, which Mount Vernon voters will consider on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, includes $40 million in special education expenses, an increase of 25% from the current school year. 

The Mount Vernon City School District’s 2026-27 budget, which will be voted on by the community on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, is funded through property taxes, state and federal aid, and local revenue sources. The $276,241,856 budget is made up of 53% property taxes, 44.4% state aid, and 2.6% of local revenue, such as interest from District bank accounts. The District also receives federal aid through Title I and other grants. With these funds, the District will implement recommendations from the New York State Monitor’s academic and financial plans, such as adding a Director of Bilingual Education and World Languages. School district administration is also finding efficiencies within existing funds – in part through central office reorganization – and leveraging Title funds for Gifted, Talented and enrichment programs, as well as adding math support specialists.
 

A Letter from the Board of Education: On April 7, 2026, the Board of Education unanimously adopted the City School District of Mount Vernon’s proposed budget for the 2026–2027 school year. The proposed budget will be presented to voters on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. We are grateful to Superintendent Dr. Demario A. Strickland and the entire district team for the careful, collaborative work that produced a budget honest about our challenges and clear about the path forward for our students.

Per New York State Education Department (NYSED) data compiled on Datawrapper (https://www.datawrapper.de/_/gwj66/), the Mount Vernon City School District was ranked 10th out of 39 school districts in Westchester County in per student spending at $37,451 per student in the 2023-24 school year, the most recent year that public data is available. While the district spends less per student than nine Westchester school districts, it also faces some of the highest expenses in the county.

The Mount Vernon City School District's 2026-27 budget bolsters Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings for students through eight state-approved graduation pathways available at Mount Vernon High School. 

The annual budget vote and trustee election will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. You can read more about our budget and voting information by visiting the budget page on our website (tinyurl.com/5t5x3y86) or reviewing the 2026-27 budget book (tinyurl.com/mrysvt9k). 

Community members will vote on a $276.2 million budget, which includes a 1.48% increase in spending and a 1.99% increase to the tax levy, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The increase in the tax levy is well below the 2.6% tax cap set by the state, and it is lower than many districts across the area who are also navigating the rising costs of education.  

There are two more opportunities to listen to live community forums with Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland regarding next year’s school budget. The District welcomes Mount Vernon residents to attend and ask questions! These events are a part of a series of seven community forums around the city of Mount Vernon.  To view past live streamed community forums, please click here. All sessions are live streamed through the website and Facebook for those who cannot attend. 

The upcoming dates are:

• Monday, May 4 at Greater Centennial Church at 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 14 at Hamilton School from 6-8 p.m., where a translator will be present for Spanish speaking families.

Dr. Demario Strickland, Superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District, discussed the draft budget for the 2026-27 school year with community members Tuesday evening at Pennington School. To view the presentation, click here. To read more about the last community forum, detailing his presentation, click here. To watch the full presentation, click here. 

Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland presented the draft budget for the 2026-27 school year to the community at Graham School on Thursday evening. The draft budget was approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday, April 7 and includes a 1.99% increase to the tax levy, which is below the tax cap prescribed by the state. Click here to watch the full presentation or click here to view the PowerPoint.

Dr. Demario Strickland, Superintendent of Schools, presented the Mount Vernon City School District’s early draft budget for the 2026-27 school year on February 26 and again on March 24, where he explained the school district’s sources of revenues and expected expenditures.

Click here to view the presentation.

Click here to view video of the March 24 presentation.

Dr. Demario Strickland, Superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District held his second community forum on Monday, February 9 at Mount Vernon High School to connect with the community and discuss budget priorities for the upcoming school year. He answered questions and concerns about the topic while reviewing results from the budget survey distributed in December. 

To read about the presentation, click here. 

To read about feedback from the budget priority survey, click here.

View the budget calendar here. Visit the budget page by clicking here.

Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland met with the community at Graham School on Monday evening to discuss budget priorities and answer questions about the 2026-27 school year budget. 

The next community forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, February 9, at Mount Vernon High School. 

Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland provided testimony in Albany at the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2026 New York State Executive Budget. Dr. Strickland advocated for legislation to support the District, including Foundation Aid funding reform and support of Assembly Bill A6827, which “relates to the establishment of multi-year cost allowances for the Mount Vernon (City) School District.”

New York State Education Department Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa, New York Senators Jamaal Bailey & Shelley Mayer, along with Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow and Regent Frances Wills, met with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demario Strickland at the Board of Education Friday morning to discuss the state’s monitoring of the Mount Vernon City School District.

Dr. Demario A. Strickland, Superintendent of Schools: 

The Mount Vernon City School District was re-designated as a district in fiscal stress for the school year ending on June 30, 2025, by the New York State Comptroller. This score reflects the district finances from last school year, with several actions already taken to improve the district’s fiscal health and sustainability. 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demario Strickland presented community feedback on budget priorities for the 2026 - 2027 school year to the Board of Education Tuesday evening. The District conducted a survey in December to hear from community members and stakeholders about what they think is essential for the 2026 -27 budget.