Kings Park narrows budget gap to about $300,000 as board debates staffing cuts and solar-energy contract

Kings Park Central School District officials told the Board of Education that the district’s preliminary budget gap has narrowed from about $2.5 million to roughly $300,000 as administrators adjust staffing and await final state aid numbers.

Superintendent Doctor Egan said the district’s draft budget is just under $110 million and that the board is tracking three major uncertainties: federal Title and special-education grants that together provide about $1 million; roughly $2.67 million in tax-credit funding the district expects to use for a combined solar-and-boiler project; and a $690,000 EPA grant to offset the cost of electric buses. “If that money disappears it makes our boiler and solar project financials don’t work,” Egan said.

The superintendent said the proposed budget currently assumes a 2.99% tax levy increase, and estimated the average homeowner would see an increase of about $25.42 per month, or roughly $305 a year. The district’s heads of school also reviewed academic outcomes: the high school’s 2024 cohort (213 students) recorded a 95% graduation rate and a 72% rate for Regents diplomas with advanced designation.

Why it matters: the district’s capital and operating plans — including an energy performance contract that pairs solar revenue with boiler replacement — depend on federal incentives and state aid that have not been finalized. Administrators said staff reductions and reassignments are part of the plan to bring the budget into balance while preserving class sizes where possible.

On staffing, Assistant Superintendent Doctor Craig summarized proposed reductions that would lower district staffing by about 9.8 full-time equivalents, including targeted reductions at the middle and high school levels and a 1.0 reduction in district speech services. “We focused on sustainability so we are not forced to flip staffing next year,” Craig said, noting some middle-school grade bands could be run with slightly larger but still reasonable class sizes.

Board members pressed administrators about contingency plans if the federal Inflation Reduction Act funds or the EPA bus grant fail to materialize. Egan said the district is negotiating contract terms with the energy service company that should include an exit clause and added that, without the ITC/IRA funds, the project would need a new funding source. “We would need to look at an alternative revenue for the boiler work,” he said.

The board also voted to appoint Energy Systems Group (ESG) as the district’s energy service company (ESCO) to begin a comprehensive energy audit and develop a contract for the solar-and-boiler project. The motion passed by voice vote.

Nut graf: With $300,000 left to resolve and several federal and state revenue items unresolved, the board scheduled another budget adoption session for April to return with a balanced proposal once state aid numbers become final.

Other details: administrators said the budget reductions presented are already reflected in the current draft and that the district will present a balanced budget for adoption April 22. District leaders also noted ongoing regional collaboration efforts with nearby districts to share low-enrollment AP and elective courses to broaden student opportunities while containing costs.

Ending: The board set a schedule leading to a public budget hearing on May 13 and the district’s annual budget vote on May 20. Officials said they will continue to monitor federal grant status, state budget negotiations and the final contract terms with the ESCO.