Haldane Seeks 5.5% Tax Levy Increase

Haldane Central School District Superintendent Dr. Gail Duffy last week presented a proposed 2026-27 budget that is impacted by an upcoming capital project and efforts to improve traffic conditions, as well as a plan to move toward an electric bus fleet. 

The $31.8 million spending plan represents a 5.77 percent budget-to-budget increase over 2025-26, and a 5.53 percent tax levy increase – the maximum allowed under the state-mandated property tax cap. This equates to an increase of $370 in property taxes for a home valued at $500,000. 

The budget includes $175,000 in additional special education funding, $25,000 for a transportation assistant, $56,000 for athletic expenditures, and $25,000 for a transportation assistant. 

The tax levy increase is driven largely by debt service related to the district’s capital project, approved in November 2024 and slated to break ground this June. 

Revenues include a 2.66 percent increase in state aid.

The district’s goals this year include a focus on transportation, following completion of a 2025 transportation study of bus routes. The study revealed that Haldane’s car, bus, and pedestrian traffic posed dangers to the school community. As a result, on April 13, Haldane will begin a “traffic pilot” with new patterns for buses and parents to follow.

Upon approval by the school board, Haldane voters on May 19 will see five propositions on the ballot: the budget, a request of $175,000 to purchase a bus and two minivans (tax neutral), a request of $275,000 for improvements to the tennis courts (tax neutral), the establishment of a Transportation Reserve Fund with a goal of $5 million over five years to assist the district in complying with the electric bus mandate (tax neutral), and a request from Butterfield Library to approve $101,094 to support operations. 

The budget is scheduled for adoption at the April 21 school board meeting, with a public hearing scheduled Tuesday, May 5.

The district’s goal to maintain a safe and efficient fleet of vehicles for student transportation is made more challenging with the state mandating that all newly acquired buses after July 1, 2027 be electric, and that by July 1, 2035, every district’s entire fleet be electric. 

“As a district, we believe in New York State’s long-term goals – clean air and better health for our students are essential – but we might need more time,” said Duffy. “The district is exploring options with NYSERDA-recommended consulting firms to develop a state-mandated fleet electrification plan and assess the costs of owning versus leasing.”

The cost of a diesel bus is around $85,000, according to Duffy, while that for an electric bus is between $350,000 and $400,000, with additional costs related to chargers and electricity.

Districts may request individual waivers of the deadlines.

A further concern is the availability of infrastructure to support the charging of bus fleets.

Earlier this month, the Putnam County Legislature sent a resolution to the state, asking for the mandate to be axed – or at least have the timeline adjusted.