Thursday, October 1, 2026
With just over $25 million in projected state aid and New York’s 2 percent tax cap still in place, Lynbrook school officials have begun shaping the district’s 2026-27 spending plan amid rising expenses.
Joel C. Press, assistant superintendent for finance, operations and information systems, outlined early revenue projections, reserve balances and estimated expenditures for the proposed budget, at the district’s first budget workshop on March 4.
Lynbrook’ s current budget is $110.1 million t for the 2025-26 school year. The district’s proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year is projected to exceed $115 million.
Under the state’s tax cap formula, the district’s allowable tax levy increase is calculated at 0.95 percent. Officials are proposing a 1.97 percent tax levy increase. Press said the difference is largely related to revenue adjustments tied to building aid and Payments in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT agreements, which affect how the district’s levy is calculated.
He noted that the proposed levy increase ranks as the 14th lowest among Nassau County’s 54 school districts, according to the state Comptroller’s office. The tax levy, projected at just over $80 million for 2026-27, is the largest source of outside revenue for the district.
Foundation Aid is the single largest source of the district’s state aid, the second largest source of outside revenue, projected at nearly $16.5 million. Press said that foundation aid is distributed through a state formula that takes into account inflation, student need and regional cost differences.
Other major categories of state funding include transportation aid and reimbursements associated with the district’s partnership with the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES.
Transportation expenses through BOCES are expected to increase by about 5 percent, largely due to a net increase of eight students requiring services, additional matrons, fluctuations in fuel and insurance costs and rising labor expenses.
The transportation budget also includes state-mandated services for students attending private and parochial schools within a 15-mile radius.
Insurance and benefit costs are expected to rise. The state’s Health Insurance Program premium is projected to increase by 10 percent, and 11 percent for the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal. BOCES tuition and related services are projected to go up by roughly 5 percent.
“Our real sources of revenue are our tax levy and state aid, neither of which are increasing at the same rate as the increase of our expenses,” said Press.
Personnel costs remain the largest portion of the district’s spending plan. Salaries are expected to increase by about 3.5 percent, bringing the total to nearly $58 million. The increase reflects contractual obligations as well as the addition of a new business teacher, a kindergarten teacher and an occupational therapist to address student needs.
Benefits are projected to jump by just under $1 million, largely due to higher health insurance costs as well as increases in Social Security and Medicare contributions.
The proposed spending plan also includes nearly $1.3 million for curriculum, instruction and assessment, $3.9 million for personnel, transportation and student support services and $3.5 million for finance, operations and information systems.
Special education spending is projected at nearly $8 million, largely due to increases in BOCES tuition and transportation costs related to new routes and rate adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index.
However, the budget includes a roughly $700,000 reduction in private tuition costs for special education students due to more students returning to district programs and others graduating or exiting those placements.
The capital component of the budget includes $900,000 to replace the running track at South Middle School, the district’s only track used by varsity and junior varsity teams.
Board Trustee Andrew Lewner said, “The current track has become a tripping hazard and poses a liability risk, particularly because members of the community frequently use it.”
The budget adoption meeting will be held March 11, followed by a public budget hearing on May 6. The final day to register to vote in the budget election is May 13. Voting takes place May 19.
