Connetquot board presented with proposed $233M budget and a $3M gap; trustees debate reserves, programs and staffing

The Connetquot Central School District on March 25 received a detailed second draft of the proposed 2026–27 school budget from Assistant Superintendent for Business Bob Hauser, who asked the board and public to treat the numbers as a work in progress while the district closes the remaining gap before board adoption and the May 19 public vote.

Hauser reviewed the budget calendar and New York State timing, noting state aid remains uncertain until the Legislature finalizes the state budget. He explained the district’s tax‑cap calculation and said the tax‑levy ceiling displayed on the slides was $148,840,217 (a 2.15% increase). Hauser described a proposed expenditure figure that was higher than the current year and gave a draft proposed spending total in the low‑$233 million range, explaining the draft represented roughly a 1.9% increase in spending over the prior year.

The presentation identified several major upward cost drivers: added out‑of‑district placements (tuition and services), a principal increase on a $59 million bond anticipation note, higher health‑insurance costs for active employees and retirees, increases in retirement contributions (ERS and TRS), Social Security/FICA…