Mineola board warned a contingency budget would leave an $856,000 gap and risk program cuts

The Mineola Union Free School District Board of Education on April 28 received a detailed briefing from Assistant Superintendent Will Herman on what would happen if voters reject the district's proposed 2026–27 budget.

Herman told trustees a contingent budget is triggered when a proposed budget fails and effectively imposes a 0% increase on the previous year's tax levy. He said the district's proposed total budget of $114,419,374, after removing restricted and statutorily required items, would leave a maximum contingent budget near $113 million while available revenue would be about $112 million. "That creates an $856,000 gap between our available revenue and the items that are required to be removed under a contingent budget," Herman said.

The nut of the board's concern is how the district would close that gap. Herman said items immediately excluded under a contingent budget typically include new equipment, free or low-cost use of district facilities, some non-contractual salary increases and discretionary capital projects; the district must also observe an "administrative cap" that prevents shifting disproportionate cuts onto nonadministrative programs. He said districts often preserve classroom instruction and legal obligations but look first to cut athletics, clubs, field trips and some non-union positions to reduce costs.

Board members pressed on the likely effects if the district adopted a contingent budget for a year. Trustees warned of short-term consequences such as reduced club and athletic offerings, deferred maintenance and higher costs for outside facility use. Several members also noted long-term effects, including a permanent downward impact on the tax-levy baseline and greater difficulty attracting and retaining staff. One trustee said a failed budget is "punishing the kids and the teachers," recalling a prior year when field trips and extracurriculars were curtailed.

Herman and other trustees reminded the public that state aid figures remain pending because the New York State budget had not been finalized; final state aid will affect the district's revenue picture. Herman noted the district is watching two state bills that, if enacted, could allow districts to borrow differently from reserves to bridge short-term gaps.

The board's budget hearing is scheduled for May 7; the public vote on the budget is May 19. Herman encouraged the community to attend the hearing and ask questions about the trade-offs the district would face under a contingent scenario.

Votes and procedural next steps discussed during the meeting did not include a formal board decision on the budget itself; trustees will reconvene at the scheduled hearing and ultimately the public will determine whether the proposed budget stands.

The presentation and discussion underscored the district's position that even a one-year contingent budget would have multi-year financial consequences and that decisions about what to cut would require thoughtful prioritization by the board and administration.