Huntington school board adopts proposed $161M‑plus budget for May 19 ballot, sets 2.76% tax‑levy increase

The Huntington Union Free School District board on April 21 unanimously adopted a proposed 2026–27 budget and the associated property tax report card for placement on the district ballot May 19.

Dr. Ruby Harris, assistant superintendent for finance and management services, told the board the proposed budget is "a little bit over $161 million," describing it as roughly a 2.05% increase over the current year and noting it carries a tax‑levy change of 2.76%. Harris said the district is preparing the plan while awaiting the governor’s executive budget, which had not been released at the time of the presentation and creates uncertainty for state aid assumptions.

The budget notice and property tax report card presented to voters break the spending plan into the required three components: administrative, program and capital. Harris said program spending — salaries, benefits and instruction-related costs — dominates the plan, while capital totals were presented separately and include facilities and debt service.

Harris also described the district’s contingent‑budget scenario should the voters not approve the measures. Under a contingency the district could not increase the levy beyond the prior year and would be required to remove roughly $3.9 million from the proposed plan. She said those reductions would likely affect class sizes, staffing, non‑mandated programs, athletics, fine and performing arts, extracurriculars and certain equipment and professional development expenditures.

The presentation included two ballot propositions. Proposition 1 is the annual budget put to voters for approval. Proposition 2, described by Harris as a roughly $2.1 million capital package, targets building‑condition survey priorities and facility upgrades including repairs to an amphitheater and student restrooms cited as nonfunctional at the high school.

On superintendent recommendation, Board member John moved to adopt the budget and the property tax report card; Board member Kelly seconded. The board recorded the motion as carried by unanimous voice vote: "all in favor — that's everyone." The board separately approved the district’s transfer to capital and other business items during the same meeting.

What happens next: the budget and propositions will appear on the district ballot on May 19, 2026, when voters will decide whether to approve the spending plan and the capital proposition. The board said it will update the community if the state releases new budget information before the vote.