Huntington UFSD presents $157.9 million proposed budget, schedules April 22 adoption

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. — The Huntington Union Free School District board of education on April 7 received a detailed presentation of the proposed 2025‑26 budget, which totals $157,892,675 and would carry a 2.99% tax‑levy increase if adopted.

District administrator Doctor Harris, who led the presentation, said the proposal shows a 3.69% overall revenue increase and a 2.81% rise in state aid. "So tonight's presentation is in the area of revenues as well as a budget overview," Harris said as she opened the discussion.

The nut graf: The budget keeps program offerings and supports while increasing the planned use of appropriated fund balance and reserve accounts to cover costs not offset by state aid — a strategy the administration said it views as temporary while it awaits the governor's final executive budget. The board plans to take action on April 22; Harris said she will adjust the proposal if the state releases updated aid numbers before that meeting.

Harris walked the board through major revenue drivers: the tax levy (roughly $3.5 million, described as 2.99%), state aid increases, and a $212,000 interfund transfer from the district's debt service fund tied to the district's final year of debt payments. She said the district plans a higher draw on appropriated fund balance and reserves next year than in recent years and that those projections are reviewed frequently.

Harris explained the reserve approach: state rules limit how much may be taken from a reserve to the actual anticipated expense and auditors review those uses. She said the district estimates total reserves available at about $1.8 million slated for use, with anticipated reserve balances near $17.5 million as of June 30, 2025 (not factoring in several months of interest or any replenishments).

Board members pressed for clarity. Board member Bill asked how stable the figures are while the governor's final budget remains unissued; Harris said the district received the governor's executive run and a February database run and has already adjusted foundation aid numbers based on September enrollment reporting. "The adjustment is not planned to be in the tax levy," she said, adding that any additional state aid would reduce the planned use of fund balance and reserves.

Another board member asked about the district's BOCES line, and Harris replied that BOCES figures include a range of services beyond career and technical education and that some categories — such as high and excess cost aid for students with disabilities — fluctuate with placement and service needs.

Harris summarized expense highlights and program priorities: continued mental‑health and literacy supports, maintaining class sizes, electives and advanced placement offerings, and sustained K‑12 programs such as MTSS and PBIS. She noted expected increases in benefit costs driven in part by contracts up for renewal.

The presentation also previewed three propositions that will appear on the ballot: Proposition 1 is the $157,892,675 school budget; Proposition 2 is a capital project of $3,642,500 described as having no additional impact on the tax levy or tax rate but requiring voter approval to release funds; Proposition 3 would establish a new capital reserve fund (proposed term: 10 years; ultimate amount: $15,000,000).

Harris reiterated the schedule: if the governor's final budget numbers arrive before the board votes on April 22, the administration will update the proposal; otherwise the board will adopt the budget as presented and plan any adjustments in the next fiscal year. "You'll know when I know," Harris said.

Ending: The board will reconvene April 22 to consider formal adoption and the district will post updated budget materials on its website; no formal budget vote occurred at the April 7 meeting.