The Rye City Board of Education unanimously adopted a $113.2 million tax-cap compliant school budget Tuesday night, ushering in a 2.45 percent increase over the current plan.
The adopted budget for the 2025-26 academic year will maintain all current district programs and services and include four staffing additions and one reduction due to retirement. Additionally, there is a tax levy increase of 3.66 percent over the current year’s $110.5 million budget, meaning $102.3 million will need to be collected through property taxes.
“I really do appreciate the attention that the entire admin team gives to the budget,” Board President Jane Anderson said. “It feels like when we get to this point, we have had an opportunity to fully and deeply look at each of the content areas in our budget.”
Salaries and benefits remain the largest expense in the budget, making up roughly 75 percent of Superintendent Eric Byrne’s adopted plan—or $85.4 million—which is $1.7 million more than the current budget. Health insurance premiums are expected to rise by 9 percent for the 2025–2026 school year.
The 2025-2026 budget also includes funding for capital infrastructure improvements, such as new theatrical lighting and audio systems in the high school and middle school auditoriums, abatement of the high school gym floor in preparation for its replacement, replacement of several music room floors, a new cafeteria roof at Osborn School, and upgraded communication technology systems at both Midland and Osborn schools.
There will be two new high school teachers to support the new IB program, an international program that provides interdisciplinary advanced courses that foster critical thinking and inquiry. Additionally, the budget adds one districtwide director of school counseling and a custodian for the new wings at Midland and Osborn schools.
One physical education teaching position will be eliminated following a retirement.
The budget marks the final one for Byrne, the outgoing superintendent who is set to step down on June 30. On Tuesday night, the school board also announced that it had appointed Patricia Murray, the assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, as Byrne’s successor.
There will be a budget hearing at the board’s May 6 meeting, prior to the budget being put before the community for a vote on May 20.
