05/11/2026
BEFORE THE MAY 19 BUDGET VOTE...
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Barbara Mullen
Dear Rush-Henrietta Community,
The district’s annual budget vote is scheduled for 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. next Tuesday, May 19. The vote will be at the district’s Transportation and Operations Center, 1133 Lehigh Station Road. Please make a plan now to vote next Tuesday. If you need an absentee or early voting ballot, see instructions at end of this message.
Misinformation is beginning to appear on social media. If you see a claim that is questionable, please reach out to me at www.rhnet.org/budgetquestions so the district can address it and provide accurate information. In the meantime, I want to share information regarding the district’s proposed 2026-2027 budget.
The proposed budget will
* preserve and strengthen instructional programs for 5,700+ R-H students.
* ensure ongoing mental wellness initiatives to support those R-H students.
* strengthen employees’ total compensation to make R-H more competitive. This includes teachers, bus drivers and monitors, paraprofessionals, clerical staff, and facilities employees.
* align spending with district priorities and Vision 2037 strategic plan.
Budget-to-Budget Change: 4.39%
This is the amount of money deemed necessary above and beyond last year’s budget. Some social media posts have referenced particular lines in the budget and make it appear as if the budget-to-budget change is much larger. It is not; the increase will be 4.39 percent.
Tax Levy Change: 2.17%
The school tax levy is the total dollar amount the district will collect from property owners to support the annual operating budget. Once approved, this amount is fixed and does not increase if assessments increase. Taking into account the School Tax Relief (STAR) benefit, a district resident owning a house assessed at $300,000 would see school tax rise by $82 next year.
Board of Education Candidates
Three community members are running for two open seats on the Board of Education. They are Dre Collins, Shiloh Arthmann, and Laura Borate. The trio recently answered questions during Meet the Candidates Night, which you can view by visiting www.rhnet.org/meetthecandidates today. In Rush-Henrietta, board members are volunteers who serve unpaid three-year terms.
Absentee and Early Ballots Now Available
Qualified voters who would like an application for an absentee ballot or early voting ballot may request one from District Clerk Cheryl Castronovo at 359-5010 or [email protected]. If this is of interest, contact her no later than the end of the business day Tuesday, May 12, for more information. You can learn more by consulting the back page of the newsletter that has been mailed to all houses. Some neighborhoods still might receive it in the next day or two.
The newsletter also can be read online here:
https://www.rhnet.org/district/business-office/budget/2026-budget-information/2026-budget-newsletter
Thank you for staying informed and for joining me in voting Tuesday, May 19.
Sincerely,
Dr. Barbara A. Mullen
Superintendent