Sachem board adopts $380.9 million 2025–26 budget; transportation proposition added to ballot

The Sachem Central School District Board of Education on April 9 approved a $380,900,000 expenditure budget for the 2025–26 school year and placed a separate transportation eligibility measure (Proposition 2) on the May 20 ballot.

The district presented the budget as a tax-levy-cap‑compliant proposal that represents a 1.77% increase, or $6.6 million, in expenditures from the current year. “The district is recommending we were putting forward an expenditure budget of $380,900,000,” budget presenter Michelle Sarakis told the board during the April 9 meeting.

The budget maintains current curricular programs, drama and music, most athletic programs, and funds a $9 million transfer to capital for infrastructure work (including roof and electrical projects, pool mechanical work and lighting upgrades) and the purchase of two large buses to replace spare vehicles. To balance the plan the district is using an appropriation of fund balance of $11,900,000 and $1,750,000 from restricted reserves, and projects a 2.2% increase in the tax levy (about $4.6 million).

Why it matters: district leaders said the plan holds…