Pine Plains school board cuts three staff positions to trim budget

PINE PLAINS — Pine Plains Central School District administrators detailed $291,000 in budget cuts Tuesday, May 26, after voters rejected a proposed budget last week.

The original 2026-2027 budget, which totalled $40,500,000, failed to pass on May 19, despite winning a 52% approval from voters. The proposed budget needed 60% of voters backing it, a supermajority necessary due to a school tax levy that exceeded the state’s allowed cap.

New York generally limits municipalities and school districts to a tax levy increase of 2%, but the allowable cap can be higher in some cases. Pine Plains administrators said the district was limited to a tax levy increase of just under 3.4% this year. The initial proposed budget raised taxes by 4.43%.

To fall within the tax cap — which could then pass with a simple 50% majority at the ballot box — administrators had to find about $291,000 in cuts. Residents will re-vote on the amended budget on June 16.

Following the initial budget failure, district officials deliberated and decided to propose three staffing cuts. The new budget would eliminate a head bus driver position, a typist position and one nurse. Those three reductions would save about $290,569, bringing the year-over-year school tax increase to 3.39% and the total budget down to $40,488,222.

A public hearing on the new proposed budget will take place on June 9. If the budget is defeated a second time, the district will be forced to adopt a contingency budget.

That means the tax levy would stay at 2025-2026 levels, requiring a further $945,000 in reductions. Deep cuts to athletics, Pre-K programs, and extra curricular activities would become likely — as well as staffing cuts to custodial, counselor, librarian, and social services, administrators said.