Connetquot board adopts $229 million proposed budget; tax levy to rise under state cap

The Connetquot Central School District board on Monday adopted a proposed $229,058,920 budget for the 2025–26 school year and approved related personnel and consent items, district officials said.

The approved proposed expenditures represent an increase of $6,485,902, or 2.91 percent, from the current year, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Robert Hauser told the board. The district is proposing to raise $145,707,696 by property taxes — a $1,933,428 increase that Hauser said translates to a 1.34 percent levy increase under New York State’s tax-cap calculation.

Board approval came after Hauser reviewed revenue and expenditure lines and warned that the state’s final school-aid figures are still pending. "We still do not have a final state aid estimate from the state legislature and the governor," Hauser said during his presentation. He told the board the proposed budget is balanced with the revenues shown and noted the district would use reserves if expected state aid does not materialize.

Why it matters: The levy increase is within the state cap Hauser cited, but the district’s financial plan remains contingent on two unknowns: the final state foundation-aid number and the possibility of prior-year state-aid payments. Hauser said a roughly 1 percent boost in foundation aid would yield about $360,000 for the district; district officials also listed prior-year state-aid claims — one about $1.4 million — that remain unpaid and could be credited if the state approves them.

Hauser outlined program costs included in the proposed budget. Among the items he highlighted were expansion of Universal Pre-K (UPK) from 11 to 13 sections, increasing UPK capacity from 190 to 226 students, continued support for a summer enrichment program (which he said carries a net district cost of about $41,000 after tuition and aid), and ongoing discussions with BOCES about the alternative high school program, which BOCES views as operating at a loss on its side.

School officials said if additional state aid is approved after the budget adoption, those funds would be applied to replenishing district reserves. "Any anticipated additional state aid approved would be applied back to the reserves," Hauser said.

Board action and related votes: The board moved and seconded the budget adoption; the meeting record shows the motion carried after the board president called for the vote. The board also voted to approve instructional and noninstructional personnel listings and to adopt consent agenda items 2–5; each motion passed by unanimous recorded voice vote in the meeting transcript.

What’s next: Hauser reminded the public that the district will hold a public budget hearing on May 13, followed by the actual budget vote on May 20, which will coincide with the school board election.

Ending: District officials urged residents with questions to review the detailed line-item pages and contact Hauser directly; Hauser left contact information on the presentation slide for follow-up questions.