District previews 2026–27 budget: 2.76% tax-levy limit, $900K state-aid shortfall and increased reserve use

Huntington Union Free School District finance staff presented a proposed 2026–27 budget on April 13 that would remain within a 2.76% tax-levy limit while relying on increased appropriated fund balance and reserves to offset a projected net state-aid shortfall.

The presenter highlighted a projected net state-aid decrease ‘‘of over $900,000'' and noted declines in expense-driven aid categories such as transportation and BOCES. "We are increasing the utilization of our appropriated fund balance and reserves to be able to preserve student programming and provide some stability there," the presenter said.

The draft budget preserves mental-health programs, PBIS and RTI supports, summer school, elective offerings and staffing for intermediate-building plans. The presentation compared 2025–26 budget-to-budget changes and noted that while last year's budget-to-budget changes approached larger adjustments, the proposed increase for 2026–27 narrows that to approximately $3.22 million in changes from the prior year.

Finance staff cautioned that the state budget remained unsettled as of April 13 and the statutory deadline had been extended to April 14; the district plans to adopt a budget at its April 21 meeting if updated state aid figures are not available and will adjust appropriations if the Legislature later increases aid. Voters will decide the district budget on May 19 at Huntington High School, district officials said.

The presenter also discussed Proposition Two (a capital-project item) and noted that the project would use monies already in the district's capital reserve and would not change the tax levy if approved by voters.