Rockville Centre superintendent warns of tight 2026-27 budget, flags staffing cuts as possibility

Superintendent Gavin told the Rockville Centre Union Free School District Board of Education at its Jan. 15 meeting that the district faces a difficult budget environment for 2026-27 as expenses rise faster than revenues.

"We currently live in a tax cap world, which means our our tax levy can only grow by approximately 2% each year," Gavin said, noting state and federal aid are uncertain. He listed three main cost drivers: contractual obligations, rising insurance costs and escalating special-education expenses. Gavin added the district has seen declining tuition revenue from nonresident students and fewer students overall in several elementary schools.

Gavin said those conditions mean the district will need to construct a budget that looks different from prior years and "will require difficult choices, which will include staffing reductions that will impact our programs and the way we deliver them." He said the budget process will be public and involve the board, administration, staff and the community, with formal budget discussion beginning at the next board meeting at the end of the month.

Board members and the superintendent emphasized that rising property wealth in the district, paired with enrollment declines, complicates state aid formulas. Gavin said last year's minimum 2% foundation-aid increase helped prevent sharper reductions; he expressed hope for a similar increase but warned it would not erase the gap between revenue growth and rising expenses.

The superintendent also flagged that IB exams will fall during the April break next year regardless of the calendar option the board adopts, and said staff will work with families to manage potential conflicts.

Next steps: the board will begin public discussions of the tax cap and budget at the next meeting and expects further presentations and recommendations from the administration as the budget is developed.