The East Meadow Union Free School District has proposed a nearly $286.8 million budget for the 2026–27 school year, representing a $15.5 million, or 5.71 percent, increase over the current year’s spending plan, according to a district presentation.
The proposed tax levy would rise by 2.86 percent, remaining within the district’s allowable limit under the state’s tax cap formula. Voters will decide on the budget on May 19.
District officials said the spending plan is shaped largely by rising costs in key areas such as employee benefits, special education and transportation, while state aid remains relatively flat.
The largest share of the budget continues to be tied to salaries and benefits, along with mandated expenses such as retirement contributions, insurance and special education services.
Among the biggest cost drivers:
Special education is projected to increase by about $2.1 million, or 5.5 percent
Insurance costs are expected to rise by roughly $2.6 million, or 3.95 percent
Transportation is projected to increase by $1.28 million, or 7.13 percent
Overall, these major expense categories account for more than $5.6 million of the total increase, according to the presentation.
District officials also pointed to growing enrollment and needs in special education services, with projected student counts rising in both Committee on Special Education and preschool programs.
State aid is expected to increase modestly, rising by about $724,000, or 0.76 percent, year over year.
Foundation Aid — the largest component of state funding — is projected to remain flat at $67.6 million, placing additional pressure on local funding sources.
At the same time, Universal Pre-K funding is expected to decline by more than $430,000, a drop of over 21 percent.
The district’s proposed 2.86 percent tax levy increase falls within its calculated allowable limit, which is based on a state formula that includes factors such as the prior year’s levy, tax base growth and certain exclusions.
While the state’s tax cap growth factor is set at 2 percent, additional adjustments — including capital exclusions — allow the district to propose a slightly higher increase without exceeding the cap.
The proposed levy would total approximately $166.1 million, an increase of about $4.6 million from the current year.
The district’s three-part budget allocates:
Approximately 52.5 percent to instruction
23.2 percent to employee benefits
About 7 percent to transportation
Administrative costs account for a relatively small share of overall spending, according to the presentation, viewable on EMUFSD.us,
The Board of Education is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget on May 6, ahead of the May 19 vote and school board election.
Residents will be able to review the budget in the weeks leading up to the vote.
