5 Long Island school districts where budgets failed consider their options
The Three Village Central School District was one of five Long Island school districts that failed to get enough voter support to pass their budgets. Credit: Rick Kopstein
School officials in districts that failed to garner enough support for their proposed budgets on Tuesday night said they are considering their options, including new spending proposals, in the coming days.
While 118 school districts won approval, at least five Long Island school budget proposals failed, according to returns. Results for the Roosevelt district were still pending Wednesday.
Three Village and Locust Valley failed to gain a simple majority on Tuesday, meaning more than 50% of voter support. The outcome was 2,340 against to 2,051 for the budget in Three Village and 850-765 in Locust Valley.
"Although the budget did not pass, we appreciate the community’s participation and feedback, and we are carefully considering next steps to ensure we continue supporting our students and staff in the most responsible way possible," Three Village Superintendent Kevin Scanlon said in a statement.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
- School officials in districts that failed to garner enough support for their proposed budgets Tuesday night said they are considering their options.
- The five Long Island school budget proposals that failed were Bayport-Blue Point, Islip, Locust Valley, South Country and Three Village.
- School officials said they were considering whether they should resubmit their budgets, propose revised budgets or adopt a contingency spending plan.
He said the board will weigh its option at their upcoming meetings. A possible revote on June 16 with the same or a revised budget, or adopting a contingency budget, are among their options, he said.
In a statement, the Locust Valley school board noted while the budget failed by a margin of 85 votes, the board "remains proud of the thoughtful and fiscally responsible budget" that was proposed to the community.
"As we prepare for a second vote next month, we encourage our community to stay engaged and continue learning about the proposed budget, its impact on our students and schools, and the importance of participating in the upcoming revote," the board said.
Voters in the Islip, Bayport-Blue Point and South Country districts also voted down their proposed budgets. The districts were three of seven on Long Island that needed a 60% supermajority to pass, as they sought a tax cap override.
Islip Superintendent Dennis O’Hara said in a statement on Wednesday that while the result was disappointing, "the voters of this community spoke, and we heard them."
"A failed budget is not simply a number — it is a message," O’Hara said. "The Board of Education has directed us to develop both a tax cap-compliant budget and a contingency budget for public discussion. We look forward to presenting these options to the community in the coming days, and we remain committed to providing the high-quality education our students deserve."
O’Hara said in a letter to the community a new proposed budget will be presented at a public meeting on May 29.
"Moving forward, we commit to sharing budget information in plain language, with specific numbers, clear explanations, and the detail you are seeking," O’Hara wrote in the letter.
Islip had proposed a budget that would raise its property tax levy by 2.85%. Administrators cited higher costs for transportation, special education and healthcare among several factors driving up expenditures.
In 2012, New York State established a tax cap that limits how much a district can raise its property tax levy each year. The cap has been set at a baseline of 2% for the past five years. The exact limit for each district varies based on their fiscal circumstances.
Voters in South Country overwhelmingly rejected the district's proposal, with 2,747 voting against it and 1,105 for it. The district offered a budget with a 13.45% levy hike. South Country is facing a fiscal crisis stemming from mismanagement and overspending.
Board members in statements posted on the website acknowledged the outcome and said they will determine whether to present a revised budget on June 16 or adopt a contingency budget.
A board meeting was scheduled for Wednesday night.
In Bayport-Blue Point, the vote was 679 for and 568 against the proposed spending plan. Officials were seeking to raise its levy by up to 2.99%. The district's cap for 2026-27 is set at minus 0.76%, primarily driven by a $1.4 million debt coming off the books, officials previously said.
Superintendent Timothy Hearney on Tuesday said the district was disappointed with the result but thanked voters for their participation.
"District administration and the Board of Education will be meeting in the days ahead to evaluate next steps," his statement read. "We remain committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities while maintaining fiscal responsibility."
Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, noted Wednesday that overall, 96% of the 124 budgets were approved and the average passage rate was 68%.
"Last night was a very good night for public education," Vecchio said. "A nearly 70% approval on anything when it comes to any type of election, politicians will tell you, those are good solid numbers."
