The Uniondale school district unanimously adopted a $296 million budget for the 2026-27 school year at the Board of Education meeting last week, approving a spending plan that includes a property-tax hike that exceeds the state’s limit in order to avoid cuts in staff, programs and services.
Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil said the district would pierce the state-mandated tax-increase cap, citing limited increases in state aid and rising costs. As a result, the spending plan will need the support of at least 60 percent of district voters to pass next month.
The district is slated to receive only about 1 percent more state aid next school year, which Darrisaw-Akil de-scribed as insufficient to meet student needs. “We know that that level of funding is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of our students, and to maintain the high-quality programs,” she said.
Over the past four years, the district’s tax levy increases have averaged about 2.4 percent, but the relatively small 2 percent hike proposed for 2026-27 — which administrators estimate will cost the average homeowner about $121 more in property taxes per year — will be greater than the state’s allowable increase.
“It’s really important to note that while [the 2 percent increase] does exceed the tax-calculated negative cap,” Darrisaw-Akil said, “this 2 percent assessment is lower than the increase we implemented last year.”
Mary Martinez-Lagnado the district’s assistant superintendent for business affairs, explained that the district’s tax cap for the coming year is calculated at negative 0.4 percent, largely due to changes in the state formula, including lower allowable expenses than previous years. That effectively makes it impossible for the district to raise taxes at all without supermajority voter approval.
Olga Hernandez, of Hempstead, questioned both the tax cap override and whether increased spending will translate into improved services. She said she was not convinced that money earmarked for special education is being used effectively, and wanted more transparency.
“Special-education students are really not receiving the services that they deserve,” Hernandez said, noting that the proposed spending plan allocates roughly $38.7 million to those programs.
She also raised concerns about administrative costs and legal expenses, and asked district officials to clarify how funds are being distributed. “Nobody talks about how top-heavy the administrative budget is,” Hernandez said, “but [the focus is] on the direct service that the staff is giving, and those are the ones that you cut out.”
A North Baldwin parent shared concerns of rising costs.
“In 10 years, when my kids are ready to graduate from Uniondale, how much more are my taxes going to go up at that point?” she asked. “Will I be able to keep my house here?”
The driving force in the increase in spending is Uniondale’s Academy Charter School, which 40 percent district students attend — a percentage that increases each year, with the district now paying per-pupil tuition of $26,090 for 925 students.
Without the proposed tax increase, the district would need to cut about $2.7 million from the budget, which would likely result in staff reductions, because salaries and benefits account for most of the spending.
“If we don’t ask for that 2 percent, it will mean $2.7 million more of reductions in the budget,” Lagnado said. “Most budgets, or 70 percent, are salaries and benefits. That’s really what makes up this budget.”
In her presentation, Lagnado pointed to several financial pressures, including declining enrollment and the rising costs of not only charter school tuition, but also transportation and other mandated services.
“These are costs that we are mandated by the state to cover, that place a significant burden on our local taxpayers,” Darrisaw-Akil said. “For the services that the district really has no administrative control over.”
Uniondale is among a small number of Long Island districts considering exceeding the tax cap this year, along with Lynbrook, Bayport-Blue Point and Shelter Island. It is awaiting final figures from the state budget on how much aid schools will ultimately receive.
In addition to the budget, Uniondale voters will consider a second proposition to fund capital improvements using the district’s capital reserve. The proposal includes upgrades to playgrounds at Walnut, California Avenue, Cornelius Court, Grand Avenue, Smith Street and Northern Parkway elementary schools, as well as improvements to the tennis courts at Lawrence Road Middle School.
School board President Mary Bediako said she reviewed the spending plan thoroughly, and encouraged residents to do the same. “There is no fluff in this budget,” she said. “This is a responsible budget that will help our students.”
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for April 28, when trustees are expected to vote on BOCES-related items. A public budget hearing will be held May 5, followed by the budget vote on May 19, which will take place at all elementary schools from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For voting information call (516) 560-8945 or visit district.uniondaleschools.org.
