On April 9, 2025, the Stillwater Central School District Board of Education adopted a proposed $31,707,256 budget for the 2025-26 school year. This strategic spending plan balances the district’s commitment to student success with fiscal responsibility to the Stillwater community. Residents will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 20 to vote on the proposed budget, fill three Board of Education vacancies, consider the Stillwater Public Library proposition and elect new trustees.
The spending plan maintains all educational programs for students, preserves current services and includes the purchase of four new diesel school buses. In addition, the proposed budget allocates funding for salary increases for faculty and staff, as well as rising costs for health insurance and other employee benefits. Under the proposal, spending would increase by 3.00% or $924,578 over the current-year budget, which can be attributed to higher costs in various areas such as utilities, diesel, gasoline and fuel oil.
“Navigating an uncertain economic landscape, the proposed 2025-26 budget ensures fiscal responsibility while maximizing opportunities for student success,” Superintendent Joseph Mariano, Jr. said. “Moreover, this spending plan meets the district’s key objectives within its financial limitations, prioritizing safe learning environments, high-quality educational experiences for our students and innovative professional development opportunities for staff.”
If voters approve the proposed budget, the projected tax levy—the total amount of money a school district raises through property taxes—would rise by 4.87%. This increase is below Stillwater’s maximum allowable tax levy increase of 4.88% as determined by the state’s tax levy “cap” formula.
District officials surmise that school tax rates, which are the amount of taxes residents pay per $1,000 of assessed property value, will rise by approximately 2.81% for residents. Final school tax rates are set in August when municipalities finalize their assessment rolls.
This year’s budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 20, from 12-9 p.m. in the MS/HS auditorium. For detailed budget information – including information on early voting and absentee ballots– please visit the “Budget and Finance” page on our website.