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Hampton Bays board proposes $69.5 million budget; voters to decide May 19
Summary
The Hampton Bays Union Free School District proposed a $69,540,846 tax-cap-compliant budget with a 2.57% tax levy increase; the May 19 ballot will ask voters to authorize the budget, permit use of up to $300,000 from fund balance for repairs, and elect one board member.
The superintendent presented a proposed, not-to-exceed budget of $69,540,846 that the Hampton Bays Union Free School District will ask voters to approve on May 19.
The superintendent said the plan is tax-cap compliant and reflects a projected tax levy increase of about 2.57%. He outlined the revenue picture as roughly $52,500,000 from local tax revenue, $1,100,000 in other local revenue, approximately $15,800,000 in state aid and about $91,000 from an ERS reserve. "This budget was built to preserve jobs and not lay people off and preserve programs while staying within the tax cap," the superintendent said.
Why it matters: declining enrollment and rising costs have tightened planning. The superintendent reported current district enrollment at 1,911 students and cited shrinking kindergarten registration — 70 students registered now compared with 86 at the same point last year — which affects future staffing and class-section planning.
Ballot questions and other items: Voters will face three questions on May 19. First, whether to authorize the 2026–27 budget. Second, whether to allow the district to use up to $300,000 of undesignated unreserved fund balance, if available after books close June 30, for basic repairs or renovations. Third, voters will elect one candidate to the board; Mrs. Capuano has submitted a petition for re-election.
The superintendent also described a programmatic adjustment to reduce reserve drawdown: converting one K–4 section into a full-day pre-K section, which he said would allow the district to access approximately $180,000 in revenue for full-day pre-K slots. He acknowledged questions remain about implementation and said details for September will be worked out with HBTA and administrators.
Board procedure and next steps: The superintendent said the budget requires a simple majority ("50% plus 1") on the districtwide ballot to pass. If approved by voters, the budget will fund current staffing levels and programs the administration prioritized; if rejected, the district faces a different planning path under the tax-cap rules. The board scheduled the budget to appear on the May 19 ballot and encouraged community engagement ahead of the vote.
