South Huntington board reviews budget, eyes $3.5 million capital reserve for portables and bus purchases

The South Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education spent the bulk of its March meeting on a second budget work session, reviewing the tax-levy formula, fund balances and a proposed capital reserve that administrators say could be seeded with roughly $3.5 million.

Board finance presentations outlined why the district’s eligible tax-cap figure is currently 3.97 percent and explained how exclusions (pension increases, capital expenditures, debt service and bus purchases) change the calculation. Staff emphasized that the levy setting is a formula-based calculation and that the board can propose a levy lower than the allowable maximum.

Chief budget discussion points included fund balance and reserves. Staff reported the district’s unassigned fund balance stood at the recommended 4 percent and that the district allocated $2.79 million of fund balance toward the 2024–25 budget. Officials said last year’s higher-than-expected state aid, interest income and FEMA reimbursements…