NEWFIELD, NY (607NewsNow) — A $28.2 million school budget is being presented to voters in Newfield. 

Superintendent Jesse Harper tells 607 News Now the proposed 2026-27 spending plan continues “a process that began a couple years ago regarding fiscal stability.” Newfield’s school district had previously been listed by the New York State Comptroller’s office as a district in fiscal distress.

“We are still healthy and keeping the tax increase–we’re going out at 2.9 percent,” Harper said Apr. 28 on 607 This Morning.

“We cannot keep going out to the taxpayers at over five, seven, eight percent,” Harper added.

Instead of cutting people from jobs, Harper says the school board has taken a more creative approach: eliminate unfilled positions.

“There are about five unfilled positions that the district will not be filling, so that gives us savings,” Harper said.

Voters in the Newfield Central School District will cast ballots on May 19.

FULL INTERVIEW: Newfield Central School District Superintendent Jesse Harper on 607 This Morning