Northport-East Northport board previews 2025–26 budget, three propositions and operational changes

Superintendent Dr. Dave Moyer presented the Northport-East Northport School District's proposed 2025—6 budget to the Board of Education on May 8, detailing a 1.8% overall budget-to-budget increase and several operational changes that district leaders say keep spending low compared with neighboring Long Island districts.

Dr. Dave Moyer said the district's budget-to-budget increase is "a relatively low budget increase across Long Island," and that staff had worked to keep the proposal in the district's lower quartile of increases.

The proposal shifts a slightly larger share of spending into program services and reduces the administrative proportion of the three-part budget to about 9% (down from roughly 9.5% previously), the district's staff member Bob told the board. "There's actually kids and there's educational programs behind the numbers," Bob said; "the boring part is me," when introducing the numeric breakdown.

Nut graf: The budget package on the May 20 ballot includes Proposition 1 (the district operating budget), Proposition 2 (authorization to expend established capital reserve funds for roofs and HVAC), and Proposition 3 (authorization tied to an energy performance contract to access additional state aid, primarily for solar). District staff said Proposition 2 and Proposition 3 will not increase local taxes; Proposition 2 simply authorizes drawing on a voter-established reserve for capital work.

Major fiscal details and drivers - Overall proposed increase: about 1.8% year-to-year. - Personnel: an increase in personal services of about $1,000,000 (just over 1%), driven in part by retirements and a retirement incentive; the district also reduced 22.4 positions. - Bus routing: elimination of routes into cul-de-sacs is projected to save roughly $200,000. The change means some students now picked up inside cul-de-sacs will instead be picked up at stops at the end of those streets beginning next school year. - Insurance and capital: a 21% increase in property and liability insurance (NYSER policy) and increased capital-fund spending to address deferred maintenance. - Revenues: staff reported small differences between budgeted and final state aid runs; the final state budget yielded $1,554 less than the district had planned across multiple aid lines, and two categories decreased by $83 and $1,471 respectively. Staff said no budget adjustment is required for that shortfall. - Other revenue changes include a $116,000 reduction in other aid and a $400,000 reduction in anticipated interest earnings, which the staff said is being partially offset by new property rental income.

Propositions and vote logistics The district will hold its budget vote May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at three polling locations: Fifth Avenue Elementary School, Dixon Avenue Elementary School, and the William J. Bronson Administrative Building. The trustees' election will fill three seats; five candidates are on the ballot. Staff emphasized the budget book and an informational booklet are available online and in print for voters.

Breakfast program and state change Board members asked about student breakfast offerings after the state announced universal free school breakfasts late the prior evening. District staff said the new state action is recent and that implementing a full breakfast program in every building could require changes to arrival schedules and instructional time; staff committed to reexamine the district's approach once state regulations and details are finalized. In buildings where on-site breakfast has historically been offered for a handful of students, the district said it has continued those breakfasts and will revisit logistics if the state program proceeds.

Other operational notes Board members discussed enrollment declines and the need to audit participation in extracurricular programs and clubs; staff said prior reviews found areas needing clarification and said the district will continue to assess equity and appropriateness of offerings as enrollment changes. Staff also described ongoing capital projects and a separate capital proposition for voter authorization to expend funds from the district's previously established capital reserve.

Decisions and next steps The board voted on consent items under agenda item 11 at the meeting; across the budget discussion, the board did not change the proposed budget as presented and directed staff to continue public outreach ahead of the May 20 vote. If the propositions pass, staff said funds would be used for roof and HVAC replacements and to support an energy performance contract aimed largely at solar projects.

Discussion versus action: the presentation included staff analysis and several board questions; the formal action on the budget will occur by public vote on May 20.