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Middle Country proposes $304 million budget, stays within 2.21% tax‑levy cap; contingent budget would force cuts
Summary
District presenters outlined a $304 million spending plan that stays inside a 2.21% tax‑levy cap and relies less on reserves than prior years; presenters warned a contingent budget would leave a $3.5 million shortfall that could affect pre‑K, electives and extracurriculars.
Middle Country Central School District presented a proposed 2025–26 budget of about $304 million that the district says stays within a 2.21% tax‑levy cap and would translate, for a representative property, to roughly $182 more per year.
The presentation on the budget emphasized year‑round planning and the district’s mission to “empower and inspire all students” while noting rising costs for health care, special education, transportation, retirement and utilities. The presenter said district reserve balances have fallen roughly 50% over the last six years and that the district’s fiscal stress score is 21.7 points, a level that does not trigger a formal designation by the state comptroller.
Why it matters: The budget funds classroom programs for more than 9,500 pre‑K–12 students, including a universal full‑day pre‑K program, vocational and BOCES options, athletics and extracurriculars. District officials told the board that continued underfunding of state aid would require either program reductions, higher taxes or heavier use of reserves.
Key points from the presentation included: the district’s per‑pupil spending of about $25,000, which the presenter said is below the Suffolk County average of $28,000 and the New York State average of $26,000; a proposed expenditure increase of about 3.33% over the current budget; and the district’s reliance on two primary revenue sources—property taxes and state aid.
District staff noted the board is planning to remain within the statutorily driven tax‑levy cap of 2.21% for 2025–26. The presenter said that if voters reject the budget and the district must operate under a contingent budget, the district would face an estimated $3.5 million gap that “could affect our programs and staffs” and potentially lead to cuts in pre‑K offerings, electives, BOCES placements, class size, field trips, late buses and some extracurricular activities.
Board business at the same meeting included routine minutes and consent items; a motion to accept the consent agenda and a motion to appoint a Board of Registry for the annual district meeting were both carried by voice vote.
Budget materials and supporting department presentations are posted on the district website, and the presenter encouraged residents to use the online calculator to see the projected tax impact using the assessor figure provided by the Town of Brookhaven.
The board did not take a final vote on the budget during the meeting. District staff and board members urged voters to participate in the scheduled budget vote; the presenter reminded the public of the upcoming budget vote and gave polling hours and a link to a poll finder.
