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Superintendent defends budget levy as 3.45% increase and outlines $6 million reserve proposal for cafeteria upgrades
Summary
The superintendent told the board the proposed school tax levy is a 3.45% increase for all classes, promoted voting and registration dates, and described Proposition 2, a plan to use $6,000,000 from reserves to replace four elementary cafeteria serving lines without raising taxes.
The Superintendent addressed the board with details about the proposed 2026 budget and related voter information, saying the district’s proposed school tax levy is a 3.45% increase and presenting Proposition 2 as a reserves‑funded measure to upgrade elementary cafeteria serving lines without increasing taxes.
"This budget maintains all programs, has all classes within board of ed guidelines, includes funds for critical facilities improvements, including the replacement of the turf field, repaving of parking lots, and a Proposition 2 that does not raise taxes but seeks to use $6,000,000 from reserves to upgrade all four elementary cafeteria serving lines," the Superintendent said. The Superintendent urged community participation in the Budget Roadshow and reminded residents that polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and that absentee ballot applications and voter registration opportunities are available on the district website and at the administration office.
During public participation a speaker suggested the budget would raise taxes by 8.5% for Class 1 residential properties. The Superintendent corrected that figure in response and explained county property classification is outside the district’s control: "So our tax levy is being proposed at a 3.45% increase on the school tax portion for all of the classes. How Nassau County distributes what is class 1, what is class 2, and 3 is something out of the district's control," the Superintendent said, and offered an open meeting to review tax‑effect details.
The Superintendent also announced outreach items including an upcoming open meeting for tax questions, local voting and registration dates, and district recognitions tied to teacher appreciation and student achievements. No formal vote on the budget was recorded in the meeting transcript; the Superintendent asked the community to attend the Budget Roadshow and to vote on May 19.
The transcript records the Proposition 2 funding source and the $6,000,000 reserve amount as presented by the Superintendent. Specific distributional effects on different tax classes (Class 1, Class 2, Class 3) were not provided in detail during the meeting; the Superintendent offered a follow‑up meeting for residents seeking exact tax impact calculations.
