Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Connetquot budget presentation shows roughly $3.0 million shortfall; trustees debate program cuts
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Robert Hauser presented an initial 2026–27 draft budget with a proposed levy of about $148.84 million (a 2.15% increase) and an estimated shortfall near $3.0 million; trustees and public speakers pressed for contingency planning and questioned recommendations to reduce or pause some alternative programs and BOCES services.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Robert Hauser told the Connetquot Central School District Board of Education that the districtbudget draft proposes a tax levy of "a little over a $148,000,000" representing a 2.15% increase, and that the current working shortfall stands at about $3,000,469.
"The proposed levy is a little over a $148,000,000 and that it represents a 2.15% increase," Hauser said, presenting the tax‑cap calculation and the reserves that the district can draw on. He walked through revenue lines, reserve balances and several programmatic options that could reduce the gap before the board must adopt a balanced budget in April.
Trustees and members of the public pressed administrators about recommendations in the budget draft to not include several programs next year, including an alternative high‑school (Twilight) program and the BOCES summer enrichment offering. Administrators said contractual seat pricing from BOCES is changing and that some programs enroll small and variable numbers of students, which complicates per‑seat costing.
"This deficit is not good," one trustee said during the discussion, calling for a contingency plan and earlier, clearer reporting to the board and community. Several trustees asked for a clearer contingency framework that would identify which programs and positions would be reduced if voters reject the budget at the May vote.
Administrators noted one potential upside in the state budget: additional UPK funding that may let the district expand universal prekindergarten by two to three sections "at no additional cost to the community" if state aid materializes as proposed. They also said out‑of‑district placements and rising employee benefits costs were major drivers of the projected increase in expenditures.
Hauser underlined that the draft shortfall must be eliminated before the board adopts a budget in April: "3,000,400, $69,000 is the shortfall," he said, and added that staff will continue to refine revenue and expenditure estimates as state aid figures are finalized.
Next steps: the budget goes back to the board for further review; trustees asked for contingency‑planning documentation and more granular program cost reporting ahead of the April meeting and the May budget vote.
