District overview
Monroe-Woodbury Central School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Who pays for Monroe-Woodbury schools?
Monroe-Woodbury is a regular New York district. Its 2026-27 budget is $245,052,094. About 55.5% comes from the school property tax levy and about 41% from state aid, according to the superintendent's April 2026 presentation. State law caps how fast the tax levy can grow unless 60% of voters say yes. Voters approve the budget every May.
Tax levy up 1.95%
The levy rises to about $135.9 million. The state cap would have allowed 2.86%. The district says it has stayed under the cap for seven years in a row.
State aid is growing
The district expects about $5.7 million more state aid, mostly from foundation aid. State aid was 28 to 30% of revenue about ten years ago and is about 41% now.
Savings are capped
State law lets the free-and-clear part of savings be at most 4% of the next budget. The district hit that limit at $9.8 million in June 2026. Another $40 million of its $59 million fund balance is set aside for named purposes, such as capital projects.
If voters say no
The district would have to run on a contingency budget and cut about $2.6 million.
A clean audit and a 72% yes vote do not show every need is met. Teachers' union leaders said in April 2026 that support staff are stretched thin. Per-pupil spending is not given here because a current enrollment total was not in the records collected.
Where the district stands
Approved by voters 1,023 to 395 on May 19, 2026. About 3.5% above the prior-year budget, according to the April 8, 2026 presentation.
A 1.95% increase. The cap allowed $137,162,587 (2.86%).
The auditor said it grew about $4 million in 2025-26 and gave a clean (unmodified) opinion. The free-and-clear part was $9.8 million, exactly 4%.
Authorized by voters on December 5, 2023 and May 20, 2025. About $19.5 million of savings was moved to it to reduce borrowing.
The presenter said enrollment fell about 6.7% by the next year, rose 4.1%, then fell about 1% and 2.7% through 2025-26. The current total was shown on a slide and is not in the captions.
Up from 8% in 2022, as of late March 2026.
About the same as last year (82.44%). Employee benefits are projected up 5.9%, driven by a blended 7% rise in health insurance premiums.
Plus a non-voting student representative. Terms are three years and staggered.
Major projects
Capital improvement plan (about $98 million)
Under construction at several schools; borrowing still aheadVoters approved building work in December 2023 and May 2025. Work is under way at Pine Tree and North Main Elementary and planned at the middle school and Sapphire. The renovated Education Center, the district office and board meeting room, reopened in July 2026.
- Voters authorize the first capital project
- Voters authorize a second capital project
- Renovated Education Center reopens with a new auditorium for board meetings
- Board thanks Pine Tree Elementary staff as major construction ramps up
- Auditor says the district has big borrowing ahead and a task force is about to start
Funding
Voter-approved capital authorizations, capital reserve savings (about $19.5 million moved in 2024-25) and future borrowing; state building aid repays part over time
Total plan about $98 million per the November 5, 2025 audit presentation.
Sapphire Elementary roof replacement
Approved by voters; state review before workThe roof is past its useful life and has leaked despite patches. It was cut from the 2022 plan to reduce its cost. Voters approved up to $2.6 million on May 19, 2026.
- Superintendent proposes Proposition 2 to the board
- Board adopts the budget and ballot with the roof proposition
- Voters approve Proposition 2, 1,145 to 274
Funding
$2,051,000 capital reserve plus $549,000 state EXCEL aid; no tax impact
The district may get 80 to 100% of the reserve back through building aid over 15 years (April 8, 2026 captions).
Five-year strategic plan and new mission
Goals presented; first-year action steps under wayAfter surveys, focus groups and forums with more than 5,000 people, the district set a mission and vision, 'Empower All Students', and four pillars: Achievement, Community, Opportunity and Safety.
- District posts the 2025-26 strategic planning process page
- Consultants brief the board on the planning work
- Cabinet presents long- and short-term goals and asks the board to adopt them
- Final strategic plan and community engagement report posted
Funding
Operating budget (consultant Generation Ready); cost not given in the records collected
Recent news
Built from the district's own website pages and notices, its audited financial statements, and auto-generated captions of Board of Education meetings on its YouTube channel, October 2025 to October 2026. Captions are not approved minutes. Board agendas and minutes live on BoardDocs, which could not be stored.
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