As the process of creating the 2025-26 Poughkeepsie City School District budget continues, the district will hold two community input sessions at which residents can learn more about the budget and discuss what they believe should be included.

The first session is next week, Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m., at the Columbus Administration Building, followed by a Saturday session on Feb. 22 at 10 a.m., at Poughkeepsie Middle School.

District officials provided an update on that process at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting, focused on the recently announced projections for state aid the district will receive. Watch the meeting here and access the presentation here.

“Our goal is to draft a budget that will serve as a vital component of how we will provide a high-quality educational experience to all students,” Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, superintendent of schools, told the board. That includes, he said:

• Guaranteeing equitable resource allocation “so that all students will have access to the necessary tools and resources needed to succeed not only in school but beyond school.”
• Improving student outcomes academically and social-emotionally, as well as their wellness.
• Guaranteeing all teachers, leaders and staff members have access to high-quality professional development.
• Continuing to support a holistic school, home and community approach to serving students.

The community sessions are an opportunity for the district to better inform residents on how the budgeting process works and share updates on the process, but – more importantly – an opportunity for officials to hear from residents on what should be added to the budget to best serve students.

While district officials and building leaders have already been in discussion regarding the needs of each school, families at these sessions bring a different perspective to the conversation that may expose areas that have been overlooked.

“It’s important for families to know we’re seeking their input and they feel they have ownership in the process,” Rosser said. “We want to make sure that, as we’re developing this budget, this budget is highly informed, not only by our building leadership but also by our community and board members.”

Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business Margarita Lekaj led the Wednesday presentation, sharing with the board while state foundation aid is increasing from this year’s budget by 2%, that’s less than the rate of inflation and the increase in expenses for the district. She said an expected change to one formula used to calculate aid would result in the district receiving roughly $359 less per student than this year.

Rosser plans to discuss with the area’s representatives in the state legislature how the foundation aid may increase to better align with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s state goal of providing increased aid to areas with higher poverty rates.

Key areas in which district costs will rise include salaries, student services, instructional supplies, health insurance and pension costs, with additional areas projected to increase, such as charter school tuition aid, utilities and the cost of adding transportation services as part of the proposed elementary building restructuring process.

Immediate next steps in the process, Lekaj said, include:

• Considering how to use restricted reserves to reduce increases to the tax levy.
• Monitoring expenditures and looking for ways to reduce expenses.
• Seeking additional revenue sources, such as grant funding.
• Evaluating program needs.

The first draft of the budget is scheduled to be presented at the March 19 Board of Education meeting, followed by the April 2 and 22 meetings, and finally the budget hearing on May 7. The budget vote and school board election will be held May 20.