East Islip budget hearing proposes 1.75% tax-levy increase; two transportation and safety propositions could raise homeowner costs

At a public hearing required by New York State, district staff presented the East Islip Union Free School District’s proposed 2025–26 budget that relies on a 1.75% tax-levy increase and $6.4 million in reserve use to support a slate of operating and capital needs.

“The tax levy supporting the proposed budget is 1.75%,” said Mr. Harrison, district staff member, presenting the budget. He told residents that the district’s proposed levy is about $900,000 less than the maximum allowed under the state tax-cap calculation and that the levy supporting the budget is slated to be $77,100,000.

The presentation framed the proposal against state budget assumptions. “State aid is slightly going up by 2%…the biggest contributor to state aid is foundation aid which is going up by 2% or $580,000,” Harrison said, and he noted that a “hold harmless” provision in the state budget prevents districts from receiving less state aid next year than they receive this year. Harrison said without that provision the district could see a roughly $8 million reduction in state aid under the formula.

Why it matters: The hearing explained how the levy, state aid, reserves and several ballot propositions interact to set taxpayer impact. Under the district’s figures, an average homeowner with an assessed value of $40,000 would pay about $140 a year more to support the proposed budget; if both transport and child-safety-zone propositions pass, that homeowner could pay about $47–$48 more in addition.

Key details from the presentation:

- Tax levy: Proposed levy increase 1.75% (presented as $77,100,000 levy). The district’s tax-cap calculation would have allowed up to a 2.93% increase; the board’s proposed levy is approximately $900,000 below that cap.

- State aid and reserves: State aid was presented at about $41,600,000; the district would use roughly $6,400,000 in reserves to balance revenue and appropriations.

- Budget change and expenses: The overall budget-to-budget increase was presented as 2.35% (about $2.9 million). Salary and benefits were described as roughly 74% of the total budget; Harrison said salary-and-benefits expenses increased by about $893,000, driven by contractual salary steps but partially offset by a lower Teachers’ Retirement System premium contribution and lower-than-anticipated health-insurance costs.

- Contingency budget: If voters reject the budget and the board moves to a contingency budget, Harrison said the allowable increase would shrink to $317,000 after stripping about $2.6 million from the proposed budget; under contingency rules the district cannot raise the levy above the last approved levy and some purchases (equipment, student supplies) would be disallowed.

- Universal Pre-K (UPK): The presentation said the district’s UPK allocation fills 78 full-time slots; the dollar amount stated in the presentation was given verbally in the hearing slides.

- Transportation proposition: One proposition would expand bus-eligibility distances (K–5 to ½ mile; grades 6–8 to 1 mile; grades 9–12 unchanged). Harrison described a two-sided fiscal impact: transporting additional students can reduce reported transportation aid from the state (estimated district impact about $140,000) and would likely require about two additional buses. In response to a board question, Harrison said the bus change would affect “approximately 260 students.” He said the transportation proposition would add roughly $37 annually to the average homeowner if enacted.

- Child-safety-zone proposition: A second proposition would establish a child-safety zone for a few addresses south of Sunrise Avenue between Carlton and the Heckscher Spur; the presenter said that proposition would add about $10.50 annually to the average homeowner.

- Capital reserve and switch-gear projects: Voters previously approved a capital reserve on May 21, 2023, to accumulate up to $3,000,000 per year for up to 10 years (noting the reserve cap of $30,000,000). The board is asking voter approval to spend from that reserve on switch-gear replacements at the ECC and Timberpointe buildings. Harrison described switch gear as equipment that brings and distributes electricity into a building and said those units are in need of replacement. He emphasized that using the capital reserve would avoid borrowing costs for those projects.

Public timeline and next steps: Harrison said the district’s budget vote is scheduled for May 20, with polling from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the building noted in the presentation.

Questions and public comment at the hearing focused on the transportation proposition, program costs, and grant spending. One board member asked Harrison for a follow-up with more granular information on the number of students affected by the bus proposal and its exact costs. The district did not adopt any formal budget action at this hearing; the meeting served as the required public forum and information session ahead of the scheduled budget vote.

One attendee asked specifically about the breakdown of revenue sources and unspent grant balances; directors said staff would follow up with details after the hearing.

The board and administration emphasized that the numbers presented rely on the state budget in its current form and that voter approval would still be required for the propositions presented.