Middle Country Board adopts $304 million 2025-26 budget; approves BOCES and SCOPE contracts

The Middle Country Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a $304,000,000 budget for the 2025-26 school year, approving a package of administrative and program contracts at its regular meeting.

The 8-0 roll call on the budget adoption (motion 25-04-SR-7) followed presentations and discussion of athletics, facilities and program priorities. The board's motion to adopt the budget remained within the district's allowable tax levy cap of 2.21 percent, which the board said translates to an average increase of $182 per year for a home assessed in the presentation at $2,500 (district-provided example). The district reported the proposed budget represents a 3.33 percent increase in expenditures over the current year.

Why it matters: The budget funds classroom programs, athletics, facilities projects and district operations for roughly 9,500 students across 14 buildings. Board members and staff emphasized the district's reliance on state aid and noted that a contingent budget would require cuts to nonmandated programs such as pre-K electives, field trips, extracurriculars, BOCES occupational education and late buses.

Board discussion and presentation. District staff member Mr. Mercado, who presented the physical education, health, athletics and facilities portion of the budget, described staffing and operational changes planned for 2025-26 and the district's in-house cost-saving work. "We monitor 90 custodians, which includes our mail department," Mr.…