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North Babylon previews $152 million spending plan; special-education and staffing needs highlighted
Summary
District administrators outlined a preliminary $152 million budget with a 2.15% property tax-cap levy, projected $4 million use of reserves and a tentative 7.5% state-aid increase; board set May 20 as the single polling place for the budget vote and heard requests on facilities and staffing.
District officials presented the instructional portion of the proposed 2025–26 budget and highlighted several program and staffing details ahead of the board’s planned April 22 adoption and the May 20 budget vote.
Superintendent Dr. Graham told the board the administration and budget team are reaching out to community groups ahead of adoption and are “happy to share the budget information with anyone and everyone who will listen.” He confirmed the district plans to hold the budget vote at a single polling location, the high school West Gym, on May 20 with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The budget overview presented to the board shows property taxes as the largest revenue source, capped this year at 2.15%. Presenters said state aid is tentatively up about 7.5 percent but remains subject to the state budget, which had not been finalized at the time of the meeting. The preliminary expenditure total discussed was about $152,000,000, supported in part by a projected $4,000,000 use of fund balance.
On special education, the district’s special-education lead (Lori) said the slide indicating a 14 percent budget-line increase reflects prior underbudgeting; the proposed 2025–26 special-education budget is about a 3 percent increase over actual 2024–25 spending. She said the district processed 113 CSE referrals this year and is preparing for a large incoming kindergarten class of 72 learners, requiring adaptive equipment and communication devices. Lori added that 62 transfer students with IEPs entered the district this year, including 12 who are in private placements (two residential).
Curriculum and instruction presenters noted targeted expansions: a new elementary supplies line of $79,603, a $28,000 increase for expanded cosmetology sections, additional science lab supplies for state-mandated investigations, and new supplies for robotics and career-technology courses. Officials described several zero-percent increases in other lines to hold down costs where possible.
The personnel office said the district employs roughly 950 staff across 11 bargaining units, with 13 instructional retirements expected at the end of the year and plans to add approximately 4.8 full-time equivalents for the coming year (special education, math, E&L, speech, resource-room and cosmetology additions). Most positions are posted or in late-stage hiring and the office expects many hires by May or June.
During public comment, resident Travis Stewart asked whether the district planned to add solar panels to the Brennan building (occupied by Western Suffolk BOCES) and raised deferred-maintenance concerns. Administrators replied that the Brennan (Brandon/Brennan) building had been excluded from the district’s energy-performance solar contract because it is leased and BOCES pays the utility bills; the district said it maintains the roof under the lease agreement and that there were currently no plans to add solar to that facility.
Next steps: administration said it expects to finalize the budget after state numbers are released and asked the public to attend upcoming budget presentations and the budget hearing ahead of the May 20 vote.
