Community forum held to hear input on 2026-2027 budget development

White Plains community members met virtually on Monday evening to learn about the budget development process and provide input on the 2026-2027 school year budget. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Dr. Ann Vaccaro-Teich began the community input forum with a presentation about strategic, long-range, and budget planning before opening the floor to feedback from parents, guardians and community members. 

To view the full presentation, click here. To view the full presentation in Spanish, click here. Community members are encouraged to continue submitting feedback via email at budget@wpcsd.us. 

Important factors to the development of any school district budget are the family, student and community priorities. Monday’s forum gave community members the opportunity to make sure their feedback is considered in the financial planning for next school year. At the end of the presentation, community members provided feedback on what they would like to see more of in next year's budget including STEM, arts, and education regarding social media. 

Dr. Ricca and Dr. Vaccaro-Teich first discussed the cycle of planning, which begins each summer with an update to the district’s strategic plan. That process continues with superintendent, Board of Education, building, and department goals and objectives being set. A financial forecast is then developed, and potential budgetary shortfalls are identified. All this information is put together to guide the proposed budget for 2026-2027.   

Through good financial planning, the district aims to be effective and efficient, reallocate resources to maximize student outcomes, and maintain sound fiscal health and programs long-term. Fiscal planning also allows the Board of Education and administrators to understand the long-term impact of decisions. Board trustees attended the community input forum to learn more about the priorities of the community that will play a factor in shaping the budget.

The long-range plan includes aspects from every corner of the district, including community priorities, and guides the district's fiscal decision-making. 

“The major focal points, in addition to our mission, vision, values and core beliefs, are the three priority areas of educating, supporting and partnering,” said Dr. Ricca. “And all the people within the district are working to make sure that our goals and objectives are aligned with the strategic plan so that we're all moving in harmony to achieve those goals.” 

Goals and objectives are then weighed against the economic status and outlook of the district, which includes contractual costs, the allowable tax levy, inflation and state aid. Other factors affecting the economic outlook of the district are an increase of payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreements made with businesses and an anticipation of decreased federal funding.  

Dr. Vaccaro-Teich reviewed the savings the district has made since the 2017-2018 school year – $185 million – that have reduced the burden on taxpayers. These savings include $71,300,000 saved through capital projects, which are partially reimbursed through state aid and eliminate the need to issue debt and pay interest on facility upgrades.  

“We're continually looking for ways to find savings and efficiencies and turning those dollars back to fund things that do not have to be in the annual budget,” said Dr. Vaccaro-Teich. 

The key principles for the district’s economic planning were highlighted to end the presentation. These include protecting the instructional core, evaluating needs vs. wants, preserving investments and preventing costs, finding efficiencies and sharing services, delaying program impact, and reducing or restructuring rather than eliminating programs and services.  

“We ask very targeted questions,” said Dr. Ricca. “What's working? 
What needs modifications? And, what might not be working? What should we strategically abandon? This is an annual process, and it helps us to continuously refine.”  

Future Key Dates for the 2026-2027 school year budget: 

• January 7, 2026 – Strategic Long-Range Plan to Finance Committee​ 

• January 12, 2026 – Strategic Long-Range Plan to Board of Education​ 

• February 9, 2026 – Instructional budget to Board of Education​ 

• February 23, 2026 – Non-Instructional Budget to Board of Education​ 

• March 3, 2026 – Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget to Finance Committee​ 

• March 9, 2026 – Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget to Board of Education​ 

• April 13, 2026 – Adoption of 2026-27 Budget & Property Tax Report Card​ 

• May 11, 2026 – Budget Hearing​ 

• May 19, 2026 – Annual School Budget Vote, Propositions & Board Elections​