Board hears 2026–27 budget presentation as tax levy after exclusions totals $166.1 million (2.86% increase)

Ms. Frisenda, the district’s budget presenter, outlined the East Meadow Union Free School District’s proposed 2026–27 budget and walked the board through the tax-levy formula used to set the district's allowable levy.

The presentation showed a tax levy after exclusions of $166,103,024, which Ms. Frisenda said is 2.86% higher than the prior year and represents a $4,625,771 increase in levy dollars. She explained that the 2% allowable Levy Growth Factor is only one piece of a broader formula that also adds prior-year PILOTS and adjusts for prior-year exemptions.

Why it matters: the district faces mounting cost pressures at the same time state aid remains uncertain. Ms. Frisenda told trustees that while an earlier executive-budget estimate had indicated roughly $676,000 in additional Foundation Aid, the February state database showed no increase, so the budget assumes a worst-case of zero additional Foundation Aid.

Administrators detailed major cost drivers. Ms. Frisenda said salary and benefits, special-education services and transportation are the largest expense categories and that the budget-to-budget increase is about $15 million (5.71%). She noted some pension costs (TRS/ERS) are changing as a share of payroll, which slightly moderates that line even as overall payroll grows.

Transport and special-education details: Ms. Frisenda reported the district transports about 5,222 students in 2025–26 and reviewed district transportation thresholds: K–5 students are transported if they live more than a half-mile from school, grades 6–8 if more than a mile, and grades 9–12 if more than 1.5 miles. The district also provides transportation within a 17-mile radius for private-school students and transports McKinney-Vento (temporarily displaced) students as required by law; special-education transportation follows IEP specifications.

Enrollment and aid implications: Superintendent Rosner and Ms. Frisenda confirmed an enrollment decrease of 236 students. Ms. Frisenda said enrollment-driven aids (textbooks, software and other expense-based aids) will decline if that trend continues, reducing state aid tied to attendance.

Outreach and timeline: administrators said the presentation will be posted online, a second budget presentation is scheduled for the board meeting on April 15, and staff will conduct community "spring roadshow" sessions (PTAs and other neighborhood groups) after the board adopts the budget schedule. Ms. Frisenda said the district hopes to receive finalized state aid numbers before the April 15 vote but noted the governor's budget is technically due April 1 and has been late in past years.

Votes at a glance: the board approved CSE/CPSE recommendations, the personnel consent agenda (G1–14) and the business consent agenda (H1–9) by recorded voice votes of 7–0 during the same meeting.

Next steps: the board will receive a second budget presentation April 15, and administrators said they will return with more detail on large cost drivers and proposed mitigation strategies.