Huntington budget presentation outlines tax‑levy choices and $3.6 million in proposed capital work

HUNTINGTON — School business officials presented the Huntington Union Free School District’s preliminary property tax‑cap calculation, state aid developments and capital‑project priorities during the Board of Education’s regular meeting on Feb. 10, 2025.

District staff reported that, using the components shown in the Feb. 10 presentation, the district’s allowable levy for 2025–26 would be $120,953,894 — a 3.34% ceiling relative to the current levy that equates to roughly $3.9 million of additional levy authority. Under the district’s summary, levying at or below that amount would require a simple majority (50% plus one) on the budget vote; exceeding it would “pierce the cap,” require a 60% supermajority and would make residents ineligible for certain state tax rebates described in the presentation.

Officials reviewed the state executive budget proposals discussed at recent advocacy meetings. Highlights presented included a headline education funding increase the presenter described as about $1.69 billion (4.8%) statewide, which the presenter noted becomes about $1.55 billion if universal…