Proposed Webutuck school budget marks first tax increase since 2020

AMENIA — Webutuck School District’s proposed budget marks the first increase to school taxes in five years.

Voters will decide on the budget on Tuesday, May 19, at a public vote in the Webutuck High School Gym on Haight Road near Route 22. The vote is set to take place from noon to 8 p.m.

Webutuck’s Board of Education first saw the budget in a public meeting on April 4. Business Amdinistrator Robert Farrier presented final tax numbers on May 5.

The tax levy is set to increase 1.35% to about $8.77cents per $1,000 of home valuation over last year. Farrier said homes valued at $200,000 should expect to owe about $2,036 in school taxes.

That tax bump accommodates a 4.45% increase in overall expenditures, largely driven by salary increases and health insurance costs.

Farrier said the district has multi-year agreements with labor groups that mandate increases to employee salaries, meaning those costs are predictable year over year. Salaries are set to increase by a total of $515,344 over last year’s budget, including special education positions that were added during the 2025-2026 school year.

Health insurance costs are projected to rise sharply next year. Farrier said he expects regular annual increases averaging 8% to 10% going forward.

Farrier reported the new special education positions will result in some savings, offsetting the cost of bringing those services in-house. Previously, some special needs students had to receive services through the Dutchess County Board of Cooperational Educational Services. Bringing the service in-house will save the district nearly $300,000 in payments to BOCES, Farrier said.

In addition to the budget, voters will also decide on a bus purchase and races for seats on the school board.

A resolution asks voters to approve the purchase of two 72-passenger busesand a Bobcat UW56, a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle.

Judy Moran, Amy Wesley and Jerry Heiser are all running for reelection to the school board. The three incumbents are running unopposed for an additional three-year term on the board.