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North Babylon board adopts $159,733,147 budget for 2026–27 amid state funding uncertainty
Summary
The North Babylon Union Free School District board unanimously adopted a $159,733,147 budget for 2026–27. Administrators said they will temporarily designate more reserve funds to cover state-aid uncertainty and reduce reserve use if the legislature raises aid before the May public vote.
The North Babylon Union Free School District board adopted a $159,733,147 budget for the 2026–27 school year at its April 21 meeting, voting unanimously in a roll call that recorded six "yes" votes from board members present.
Dr. Graham, the superintendent, told the board the proposed budget represents a 3.9% increase over last year and followed a series of revisions that trimmed roughly $512,000 from an earlier proposal. He said the district would raise the amount of reserve funds earmarked in the budget as a contingency while awaiting the state legislature’s final action on foundation aid, and would decrease reserve use if state aid comes in higher than anticipated.
The business office presenter summarized the budget’s major lines: instruction accounts for about 62% of expenditures; labor and employee benefits together account for roughly 85% of the total. The district projects property-tax revenue of about $77 million and state aid near $75 million, with the tax levy covering roughly 49% of revenues and state aid about 47%. The presenter also cited a recently updated pension estimate of about 8.24% of payroll as a modest source of savings in the current projection.
Board members asked for clarification about rising transportation costs, which the presenter attributed to planned bus purchases, and about debt service (a fixed schedule tied to prior borrowing). Dr. Graham and the presenter emphasized the difficulty of finalizing a local budget while the state budget remained unsettled; they cited competing state proposals (assembly leaders seeking roughly a 2% increase in foundation aid vs. a 1% proposal from the governor).
The board scheduled a public budget hearing for May 7 and a public vote on May 19, 2026. Dr. Graham said the district’s plan is to use reserve funds as a short-term hedge against state uncertainty and to promptly adjust if the legislature increases aid before the vote.
The adoption motion was recorded by roll call: Mrs. Roland, Mr. Luchetti, Mrs. Rivers, Mrs. Tedesco, Mr. Meyers and Mr. Shide voted yes. The board also approved related motions that evening, including omnibus agenda items and routine fiscal authorizations. The budget will be presented to residents at the May 7 hearing before the May 19 vote.
