East Rockaway Union Free School District proposes $46.97M 2025–26 budget; voters also to decide cupola repair reserve

At a budget hearing, district officials presented a proposed $46,970,000 budget for the 2025–26 school year and outlined two ballot questions residents will decide on May 20: Proposition 1 to adopt the budget and Proposition 2 to authorize up to $250,000 from an existing capital reserve for cupola restoration at the high school.

Mike Van Wert, the district’s budget presenter, said the proposed plan is “educationally sound, transparent, and fiscally responsible,” and that it maintains current instructional programs and extracurricular activities while funding targeted enhancements. He described the district’s development process, which begins in November and can project expenditures as far as 18 months ahead.

Why it matters: The plan would raise the district’s tax levy by 1.95% — within New York State’s 3.4% tax‑cap limit — and, at the district’s average assessed value, Van Wert estimated the increase would translate to roughly $176 per year (about $14.67 per month) for a typical East Rockaway homeowner. The budget relies on a mix of property tax revenue (about 75%), state aid (about 20%) and local sources and reserves.

Key numbers and priorities: Van Wert gave the year‑over‑year budget increase as $1,680,000 (3.72%). Program spending comprises the largest share at 75.5%, with administrative and capital components each at about 12.2%. The presentation highlighted several investments included in the operating budget: a summer remediation program for elementary students (the district said federal American Rescue Plan funding for such programs has ended), added FTEs for occupational therapy and speech services, increased support for cybersecurity, a Chromebook refresh for two grade levels, and upgrades to office desktops. Van Wert also noted enhancements to clubs and the district’s college‑and‑career planning platform.

Capital and the cupola proposition: The budget includes a $100,000 transfer to capital from the operating budget for building‑level improvements. Separately, the district will ask voters to authorize up to $250,000 from an already‑established capital reserve to complete restoration of the high‑school cupola. Van Wert said voters had previously approved $313,000 for the cupola work, bids came in higher than that authority, and the additional proposition would permit the district to proceed with architect‑recommended materials that are expected to lower long‑term maintenance costs. He emphasized that the Proposition 2 request would draw on reserves and would not increase taxes.

Revenue, state aid and PILOTs: Van Wert said the district expects an increase in state aid of about $900,000 for 2025–26 and anticipates additional nonresident homeless aid under the McKinney‑Vento federal law for students displaced into the district. He outlined local revenue sources including payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) from LIPA and two housing complexes, increased interest income projections, and tuition from nonresident students enrolled in the district’s life‑skills program. The presenter described the district’s restricted reserves (unemployment insurance reserve ~ $80,000; future retirement reserve ~ $1,400,000; employee benefit accrued liability reserve ~ $580,000; ERS reserve ~ $5,700,000) and said those reserves are available to offset levy increases.

Next steps: The district will ask the community to vote on Proposition 1 (the 2025–26 budget) and Proposition 2 (cupola authorization) on May 20 at East Rockaway High School, open 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Van Wert said he will hold brief Q&A sessions at upcoming PTA meetings to answer community questions before the vote.

Closing: Board members thanked Van Wert for the presentation, praised the visuals and planning, and the hearing concluded with reminders about the vote and upcoming outreach events.