East Hampton officials present FY26 budget; parents urge keeping school programs intact

East Hampton officials used a March 17 special Board of Finance public hearing to make the case for the town’s FY26 spending plan and to respond to residents’ questions about taxes and school performance.

Several parents and educators urged the board not to cut school programs. Kristen Flannery, a 20‑year East Hampton High School teacher and parent, praised expanded college‑level courses and partnerships with Electric Boat, Eversource and Goodwin College and said “any cuts to the Board of Ed budget put these type of opportunities at risk,” urging the board to move the education budget to the Town Council and referendum without reductions.

Superintendent Dr Van Tassel framed the Board of Education’s proposal — reduced in deliberations from 7.3% to 6.9% — as driven mainly by personnel costs, higher utility and insurance bills, and special‑education outplacement expenses. The superintendent said several one‑time and recurring items increased the request, including a new state‑mandated reading program (described as a one‑time $101,000 investment) and the loss of tuition and grant revenue the district previously used to cover staff costs. She also highlighted performance data: Memorial Elementary was named a School of Distinction by the State Department of Education and the district shows above‑average results in some District Reference Group comparisons and SAT/advanced‑placement participation.

Not all public commenters supported the increase. Brian Turner, speaking remotely, said rising property taxes were forcing families to consider leaving town and asked the district to publish decade‑long metrics (math, reading and SAT scores) and regional comparisons so taxpayers can evaluate the budget’s return on investment. Daniel Finn, a parent of a child who receives special‑education services, warned that cuts to special‑education programs would harm vulnerable students and said the state must increase funding but the town must maintain existing services in the near term.

Board and town officials described steps to limit cost growth. Dr Van Tassel said the district did not add net new full‑time positions this year and had reduced an elementary teacher position based on enrollment; the district also moved bargaining groups to a high‑deductible health plan, an action the superintendent said saved roughly $350,000 versus remaining in the prior plan. The district also reported securing a $75,000 competitive grant to reduce the cost of the reading program.

Town Manager David Cox presented the noneducation portion of the budget, proposing a roughly 3.66% increase in general government operations driven primarily by personnel costs and a capital improvements plan of about $2.15 million focused on roads, drainage and infrastructure. Cox noted shifts in state policy that reduce motor‑vehicle valuations, which the town estimates will lower vehicle tax revenue and shift part of the tax burden elsewhere on the grand list.

Officials flagged several moving parts that could affect the final numbers: state action on educational cost‑sharing and recent legislative increases to the excess‑cost fund that may yield additional reimbursements to districts; final insurance rates for town employees, which officials are treating as a placeholder in the current draft; and the result of ongoing enrollment and staffing changes. The superintendent and town manager said more detailed departmental reviews and deliberations will continue with the Board of Finance before a final recommendation to the Town Council; a town meeting to adopt the budget was described as expected in early June.

Board members and residents asked for additional materials before deliberations: decade‑long student performance metrics, clearer breakdowns of special‑education costs and special‑revenue fund balances, and the ambulance task force report. Officials said those documents would be circulated in advance of upcoming hearings.

After public comment and presentations, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded; members voted in favor and the special meeting concluded.