Hampton Bays to ask voters May 20 to approve 2025-26 budget as district cites enrollment shifts and lower expense-based state aid

The Hampton Bays Union Free School District Board of Education reviewed the proposed 2025-26 budget Wednesday and set a May 20 vote, with the administration describing a modest budget increase driven by enrollment changes and a downward revision in some state aid.

Superintendent Larry Clements said the proposed spending plan would increase overall spending by about 2.16% from the current year and that the district's property tax levy is a 3.3% increase that remains within the state's tax-cap rules. "This budget is a tax cap budget," Clements said, adding that it "maintains our capital infrastructure."

Clements told the board the district's April enrollment has been largely static in 2025, up roughly seven students K-12, and that longer-term projections show modest shifts as kindergarten cohorts and cohort attrition balance out. He said the district had about 225 new enrollees and roughly 174 withdrawals over the 2023-24 year, producing a net gain but not enough to offset losses at upper grades. The enrollment patterns, he said, argue against major program cuts or immediate classroom closures.

Why it matters: Clements said a state recalculation of assessed value for the district's tax base reduced several expense-based aids the district receives (transportation, special education, building aid). "The state sees us at about $5.2 billion assessed value," he said; that higher assessed base lowered the percentage of expense-based aid the district receives. As a result, some reimbursements the district expected have been reduced, adding pressure to this year's budget decisions.

The superintendent also reviewed early-childhood funding choices the district faces. District officials said the state provided prekindergarten aid that the district can only use under strict rules; the district currently can spend about $97,200 of available pre-K aid despite a larger statewide allotment. Clements said the district must decide whether to use funds for half-day seats (54 half-day slots in two classrooms) or to pursue fewer full-day seats (36 full-day slots), because the pre-K dollars can be used only to implement pre-K programming and cannot be banked for later capital work. "It has to be used to implement the program right now," he said.

On facilities and capital work, Clements said routine maintenance will continue but that large deferred-maintenance projects are not included in this budget. Board member Mr. Springer reported that replacement windows for the elementary school would be delivered and installation would begin the following week. The superintendent also said the district will be replacing turf within the next three years as part of a normal maintenance cycle.

Other items: Clements described workforce and career-program investments the budget seeks to preserve, including culinary arts certifications, early-childhood teacher assistant pathways, dual-enrollment courses and expanded Advanced Placement offerings. He said the proposed budget is intended to "cement the roots" of existing programs rather than add large new initiatives.

The administration also noted potential outside partnerships: a private company has approached the district about installing electric-vehicle chargers on campus and would cover construction costs; the district said it would seek more information before deciding whether to proceed. The board also approved a five-year renewal of a pod agreement with Suffolk County Department of Health Services (a no-cost renewal) to allow the district to serve as a testing or vaccine site in future emergencies.

What voters will decide: The budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, with polling from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the middle school gym. The ballot will include the proposed budget and a second proposition authorizing the use of up to $300,000 in any unspent funds that might remain at year-end. Absentee ballots are available on the district website or at the district office.

Board process and timeline: Clements told the board the district will take a conservative approach because the state's final enacted budget may change some assumptions in June, but the district must adopt a budget by the statutory deadline. He said the district has engaged an outside consultant to identify state-aid opportunities; that consultant has identified roughly $200,000 in potential additional aid recoveries so far.

Looking ahead: The superintendent said budget presentations would continue in the community, through PTA meetings and other local forums, before the May 20 vote.