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Hauppauge UFSD previews 2025–26 budget, projects flat staffing amid retirements
Summary
District staff presented a first look at the 2025–26 budget, projecting roughly 3,066 students, noting 15 upcoming retirements (13 planned replacements) and citing a 3.77% change in the tax levy and roughly $20 million in state aid. The board was given a calendar for workshops, hearings and the May 20 budget vote.
At a recent meeting of the Hauppauge Union Free School District Board of Education, district staff presented the first preview of the 2025–26 budget, including an enrollment projection of about 3,066 students, staffing changes tied to retirements and a preliminary revenue picture that includes a 3.77% change in the tax levy and approximately $20 million in state aid.
The presentation matters because the budget will determine staffing, programs and the district tax levy heading into the April and May public-review and adoption cycle. District staff told the board the 2025–26 budget process ties proposals to district goals, enrollment trends and staffing needs.
A district staff member who presented the budget said, "The first thing that we tie back everything to is district goals, making sure everything we're putting into the budget ties back onto that. The next layer is enrollment to determine staffing needs and understand enrollment." The presenter told the board enrollment for 2025–26 is projected at about 3,066 students.
On staffing, the presenter said that as of June 30, 2025 the district expects 15 retirements. The district plans to replace 13 of those 15 positions, and the presenter described a net head-count decrease of three full-time-equivalent positions after accounting for staffing adjustments and mandated openings. The presentation noted specific hiring needs of two special-education teachers and one reading teacher.
Board members and staff discussed how declining enrollment and mandated special-education placements affect staffing. A board member asked whether the district expects to be able to avoid replacing some positions; the presenter said attrition has reduced staffing in general education over recent years while special-education, reading and English-language populations have required additional hires.
The presenter summarized the district's revenue assumptions: the largest revenue source is the local tax levy (the change was presented as 3.77), state aid of about $20,000,000 (the presenter said final state aid will be known after the state budget is enacted around April 1), payments in lieu of taxes tied to the industrial park (presenter said the industrial park provides the district with at least $7,000,000 in revenue), interest income and self-insurance recoveries. The presenter also said the district intends to use reserves and fund balance as part of its historical funding plan to mitigate levy impacts.
The presenter said New York school-district budget rules require a balanced budget and noted the district will continue to align revenues and expenditures to meet that requirement. The presenter gave the board a schedule of upcoming budget work: a deep dive into revenue and the tax levy on March 18; a workshop on curriculum, instruction, technology and health and safety on April 1; budget adoption scheduled for April 22; a budget hearing on May 13; and the school budget vote on May 20.
Board members asked about universal prekindergarten (UPK). The presenter said the UPK lottery has not yet been run (the presenter estimated the lottery timing in April) and said the district currently has seven UPK sections and, to date, has not had to turn applicants away. Questions about the ongoing federal litigation referenced by a community member prompted staff to say the district expected no direct effect at that time but referred to uncertainty.
Board members also asked about class sizes at the middle and high schools. The presenter said secondary class-size analysis differs from elementary; average secondary class sizes are in the mid-20s (roughly 25–30), while specialized courses such as AP or IB and certain elective classes may run with smaller enrollments (single-course sections might have about 14–15 students). The presenter said the district evaluates course offerings and staffing each year and balances new course additions against program reductions when necessary.
The board conducted routine business on the agenda after the presentation, including a motion to accept prior meeting minutes and approval of the consent agenda. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
Looking ahead, the board will revisit revenue assumptions and the tax-levy calculation in March and April before voters decide on the budget in May.
