Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hauppauge officials present 2025-26 budget proposal with 3.88% increase; hearing May 13, vote May 20
Summary
District staff presented the proposed 2025-26 Hauppauge Union Free School District budget, citing a 3.25% tax levy increase and a 3.88% budget-to-budget rise, and announced a May 13 budget hearing and the May 20 districtwide vote.
A district staff member presented the Hauppauge Union Free School District’s proposed 2025-26 budget at a board meeting, saying the plan includes a 3.25% tax levy increase and represents a 3.88% budget-to-budget increase. The staff member said the district will use January state-aid runs for planning because the enacted state aid numbers were not yet available.
The proposal, the staff member said, relies primarily on the tax levy as the largest revenue source and lists payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) at $8,000,000. The presenter said at least 70% of district expenditures are personnel and benefits. Other funding sources cited include interest income, building rentals and unspecified other revenues; the presenter also said the district intends to use reserves and fund balance to lessen the tax impact.
Why it matters: If adopted, the levy and revenue choices will affect local taxpayers and program funding. The presenter said the proposal finances classroom security technology investments, mental-health initiatives, transportation and capital work including curb modifications at the middle school drop-off and replacement/site work for a community arts playground.
Program and operational highlights announced during the presentation include an expansion of universal prekindergarten from eight sections this year to 10 sections for 2025-26 and continued transportation and debt-service obligations. The presenter said detailed budget information would be posted to the district website beginning the day after the meeting and that the district will host PTA roadshow sessions across schools beginning this week to review the proposal.
The board was told the formal schedule for the public process: a budget hearing set for May 13 and the district’s annual budget vote and election scheduled for May 20, to be held at the district building from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the presenter. The presenter emphasized that the district is adopting figures from the January state-aid run because the enacted state aid figures were not yet available.
Other community items noted in the meeting: 48 district students were selected for the 2025 Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Festival; third- through fifth-grade students from Pines Elementary performed the national anthem at Citi Field; the district’s senior citizen pasta dinner is scheduled for May 1 with an expected attendance “close to 200”; and a district employee, Phil Montana, retired after more than 30 years of service.
Votes at a glance Board adopted minutes from the April 1, 2025 meeting. The motion to adopt was made by Board member Mr. Michael and seconded by Board member Mr. Barchezewel. The board chair called for the vote and the motion passed; the meeting record does not specify a roll-call tally.
