Shoreham‑Wading River presents 2026–27 budget with 0.8% spending increase, 2.84% tax‑levy

Glenn Arcuri, the district’s budget presenter, outlined a proposed 2026–27 spending plan that would increase expenditures by 0.8% and carry a 2.84% tax‑levy increase while maintaining current program offerings.

Arcuri told the board the budget relies on a mix of strategic position reductions, transfers to capital for parking‑lot maintenance and one‑time reserve applications to keep recurring costs in check. "We continue to tighten up contingent money," he said, and noted the district plans to apply $1 million from the employee retirement reserve to help balance the 2026–27 budget and is earmarking another $1 million, leaving a projected audited balance of about $352,394 if no further reserves are added.

The presenter warned of state‑budget timing risks. Because the state had not adopted its budget, the district used the executive budget’s aid values as its revenue assumption and said it would update levy calculations if building‑aid allocations change before July 1. "If state aid changes, we will modify the tax‑levy limit calculation then," Arcuri said.

Arcuri described the district’s approach to balancing recurring revenue and expenditures: where recurring revenue cannot be raised to match recurring expenditures, the district reduced recurring costs through position reductions and other efficiencies. He said position reductions and retirements this cycle provided about $1.7 million in recurring savings that largely offset scheduled salary increases.

Contingent budget exposure: Arcuri told the board that a contingent budget (one required if a public budget vote fails) would require $1.7 million in cuts. He broke that figure down on the dais: roughly $477,000 tied to required equipment reductions, $245,000 tied to transfer‑to‑capital, $165,000 required administrative reductions, and roughly $820,000 more that would still need to be identified under a contingent plan.

Arcuri also detailed specific budget drivers: he said health‑insurance premiums and employer retirement contributions have materially outpaced the district’s tax‑levy growth, and flagged transportation and contractual technology costs — including rising license and cybersecurity expenses — as pressure points. "Health insurance premium increase last year was over 8%...the salary schedules have built‑in steps that exceed our levy limit," he said.

Board members asked for clarity about reserves and worst‑case scenarios. Arcuri responded with audited reserve figures (employee retirement reserve balance of $2,352,394 as of June 30, 2025) and said the district had used $1 million for the 2025–26 budget and plans another $1 million application for 2026–27.

The board recorded multiple routine approvals during the meeting by voice vote (7–0). The district also scheduled public budget‑vote outreach (budget hearings and newsletters) ahead of the May 19, 2026 vote.

A resident, Dan McGuire, later asked the board about PILOT (payments‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes) agreements and their budget impact. Board members and administrators said PILOTs are negotiated by local Industrial Development Agencies and can reduce district revenue relative to full tax payments; they encouraged continued public education and legislative engagement on the topic.

The board will present the proposed budget at public hearings before the May 19 vote. If the budget is rejected, the district said it would be required to adopt a contingent budget with the reductions Arcuri described.