Lynnbrook board adopts $115.25 million 2026–27 budget and approves Proposition 3 to buy property for fitness center

The Lynnbrook Union Free School District Board of Education on March 11 adopted the district 2026–27 budget of $115,248,293 as part of a consent agenda and approved Proposition 3, which would purchase a parcel adjacent to the village firehouse and fund construction of an approximately 3,600–3,800-square-foot fitness center and yoga studio to serve physical-education programming districtwide.

Superintendent Dr. Lynch told the board the district does not face an operating shortfall this year and described a technical tax-cap issue that requires the board to act. "We don't have a budget problem this year," he said, noting that after exclusions the district will seek to set the levy at 1.97 percent, which "means that we need a super majority this year." The superintendent said the administration will present the adopted budget to the community as the board's final proposal.

Trustees and staff said the fitness center is intended primarily as a physical-education classroom rather than an athletic facility, and that the district would use capital reserves set aside for this type of project so the move would not raise the tax levy. A trustee noted the district has set aside money over several years and said, "We're not asking for a single dollar more from taxpayers," adding the board can proceed without increasing the tax levy.

Details presented at the meeting said the project would involve purchasing a small property from the Village of Lynnbrook and erecting a modern, prefab building designed for strength training, cardio equipment, functional movement and a separate yoga/mindfulness studio. Dr. Lynch said the facility would serve "every child" and be incorporated into regular physical-education rotations and adaptive PE; the board estimated the work would cost in the low millions and would be funded from capital reserves earmarked for such projects.

Trustee Ms. Aragona disclosed a potential conflict and abstained from voting on propositions tied to property purchase because she said she is married to a village official. "I am married to the deputy mayor of Lynnbrook, so I do not think it's appropriate that I vote on the fitness center," she said; she clarified she is allowed to vote on the budget itself but would abstain on the propositions. The consent agenda, which included the annual budget notice and the related propositions, was adopted with one abstention.

The board also discussed project logistics, including site footprint and equipment, and compared neighboring-district facilities during the presentation. Administrators indicated that construction and any improvements funded through the proposition would come from restricted capital reserves and would not change the district's tax levy.

What's next: The budget as adopted will be presented to the community; Proposition 3 will move forward as part of the approved resolutions and, if implemented, the district will proceed with the purchase and design work under the capital-project schedule presented to the board.