Huntington UFSD presents $157.8 million 2025–26 budget; three propositions set for May 20 vote

Huntington Union Free School District on May 12 held a public hearing on the proposed $157,776,153 budget for the 2025–26 school year, including three ballot propositions voters will decide May 20 in the high school gymnasium.

The presentation, led by district staff, said the proposed budget would raise spending by approximately $5.5 million, a 3.61 percent increase year to year, and asks for a tax levy of $120,426,114. District staff said that equates to an estimated tax‑rate change from $262.17 to $269.74 per $100 assessed value — a $7.57 increase, or about $22.20 per month on an average assessed value the presentation listed at $3,516.

District staff and Superintendent McCoy emphasized that state aid numbers have changed during the budget cycle and could change again. “There is a possibility numbers can change either favorably or unfavorably,” said Dr. Harris, who reviewed state foundation‑aid revisions and other state education changes. The presentation noted an initial state release increased the district’s foundation aid by about $150,000; Superintendent McCoy later said the district anticipates about $677,000 in additional aid overall, but that amount would not cover the budget‑to‑budget increase.

Why it matters: district officials warned that if voters reject the budget, the district could be forced onto a contingent budget that would require removing about $3.8 million to $3.9 million from the proposed spending plan. The superintendent listed likely cuts under a contingency — equipment purchases, professional development, contracted services, reductions in buildings and grounds work and tapping reserves — and said mandated services and core classroom staffing would be hardest to preserve if contingency rules apply.

Key elements and proposed ballot items: the budget notice presented to households breaks spending into administrative, program and capital components and lists revenue sources. The presentation included a planned annual transfer to capital of $260,000 to fund building safety projects (smoke‑separation doors and other hardware). The district separately proposed a capital project package totaling $3,642,500 (Proposition 2) drawn from an existing capital reserve (the board said voter approval would release funds already in the reserve and would not raise the tax levy). Proposition 3 would establish a new 10‑year capital reserve titled the 2025 Building Improvement Fund, with an ultimate funding target of $15 million; the presentation said voter approval of that proposition also would not increase the tax levy.

The presentation also reviewed several state policy changes that could affect district operations and spending, including modifications to the Foundation Aid formula (poverty measure changes and higher weighting for English‑language learners), an increase in the BOCES aidable salary cap over time, a required school‑lunch change providing no‑cost meals to all students beginning next school year (the district said it will reapply to remain a CEP district), and possible paperwork for the state’s zero‑emission bus mandate and range estimates.

Board process and next steps: the hearing opened and closed by unanimous motions of the board during the May 12 meeting; the superintendent and staff said the district must continue to monitor state updates (including a May 15 data look and a November update) and will proceed to the May 20 budget vote. If voters reject the budget, the district said it will either revise and resubmit the budget for a revote or adopt a contingency budget that would limit the district to the prior year’s levy.

Budget and tax figures cited in the presentation: proposed budget $157,776,153 (3.61% increase, ~+$5.5M), proposed tax levy $120,426,114 (2.89% change), proposed tax rate $269.74 per $100 assessed value (up from $262.17), average assessed value used for estimates $3,516, estimated annual assessed‑value increase $266.40 (about $22.20 a month), contingency reductions required ≈ $3.8–$3.9M with $1.3M of immediate identified reductions listed during the presentation.

No formal adoption vote on the budget occurred at the hearing; the public vote is scheduled for May 20. The district encouraged community turnout for the May 20 vote, open 6 a.m.–9 p.m. in the Huntington High School gym.