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Levittown board outlines 2026–27 budget, proposes $15 million capital reserve referendum
Summary
The Levittown Board of Education reviewed the 2026–27 budget forecast, identified a roughly $870,000 gap to balance before adoption, and described a $15 million capital reserve referendum financed from existing reserves, projected surpluses and prior sale proceeds — the district says the referendum would not add a new tax.
The Levittown Board of Education spent much of its March 11 meeting on the 2026–27 budget, hearing a multi-part presentation from Assistant Superintendent for Business Mike Fabiano that laid out the district’s long-range forecast, tax-levy planning and a proposed $15 million capital reserve referendum.
Fabiano told the board the district is aiming to report a proposed tax levy of about 1.98% — keeping the levy “under 2%” — and that the current draft budget is roughly $870,000 away from balance. He said the district has incorporated recommendations from the New York State Office of the State Comptroller and updated a new reserve funds annual report required under board policy 55-12.
The $15 million proposal will combine existing balances (including $4.6 million currently in a capital reserve on the balance sheet), planned appropriations from a tax reduction reserve and projected surpluses. Fabiano said the measure would be presented to voters and stressed the district’s view that the referendum would not be a new tax because the funds are existing or projected resources. “This is not an — these are all existing monies,” he said, describing the mix of sources.
Fabiano reviewed budget drivers, calling out employee benefits (including a roughly 10% increase in health-insurance costs) and special education staffing as two of the most volatile lines. He noted the district’s proposed budget-to-budget increase is about 4.5% after earlier reductions and a $3.5 million cut from initial drafts; he said the board will be asked to adopt final appropriations at a special meeting on March 25 and that the approved appropriations will be the budget presented to voters on May 19.
Board members pressed for context on county comparisons and the levy snapshot. Fabiano said the 56 Nassau County districts that reported proposed levies averaged 2.41%, which places Levittown roughly a half percentage point below the reported county average. He also explained accounting steps: the district plans to reduce appropriated fund balance to $7.9 million this year (from amounts previously budgeted) and to appropriate a portion of projected surpluses into the capital reserve plan rather than treating the full prior appropriations as ongoing revenue.
The board later approved a set of routine agenda items, schedules and a consent agenda unanimously. Members also considered budget transfers including a $400,000 transfer from employee benefits/health care to operations (to fund classroom furniture and related purchases) and a $200,000 transfer between utility lines to cover higher natural-gas costs; Fabiano said solar canopy projects have come online in phases and full-year savings will be clearer next year.
Why it matters: The budget choices will determine whether the district can preserve or add programs and staffing while keeping the tax levy near the district’s stated target. The $15 million referendum, if placed before voters and approved, would finance the five-year capital plan the board is scheduled to adopt on March 25.
What’s next: The board is scheduled to consider final budget appropriations at a March 25 meeting and, if adopted, that budget will appear on the May 19 ballot. The district expects to return with staffing-level details and any remaining adjustments before adoption.
