Oceanside board presents $181.3 million 2024–25 budget, sets four propositions for May ballot

The Oceanside Union Free School District presented a proposed $181,300,000 expenditure budget for the 2024–25 school year at Budget Workshop #3, school officials said, and recommended four propositions that will appear on the May ballot. "This year budget development has been very difficult and tight," Dr. Coakley said, describing a detailed, line‑by‑line review intended to preserve staff and programs.

The proposed budget represents a 4.02% increase over the prior year; the board would fund it with three primary revenue sources, Dr. Coakley said: local "other" revenues (including a LIPA direct assessment, PILOTs and appropriated fund balance), state aid and the tax levy. He said projections call for $17.4 million in other local revenues and that the district plans to use $2.7 million from reserves this year to soften the impact of the LIPA glide path.

The district also expects increased interest income (projected at about $2.5 million) after securing higher bank rates. On state aid, Dr. Coakley said preliminary January runs show combined state aid down approximately $211,000 from the prior year and that foundation aid specifically was about $500,000 lower. He clarified that Universal Pre‑K funding is excluded from operating revenue projections because those funds are restricted to UPK programming.

Dr. Coakley explained the allowable levy growth factor under New York State’s tax‑cap rules and said Oceanside’s maximum allowable tax levy for 2024–25 would be $130,300,000, which equates to a proposed tax‑levy increase of 1.57% to fund the recommended budget. "We are permitted to use either the maximum of 2% or CPI, whichever is lower," he said.

The board recommended four propositions for voter approval: the 2024–25 expenditure budget; a capital reserve project that would be 100% funded from the district’s capital reserve and would have no additional tax impact; an amendment to reauthorize and increase the capital reserve deposit threshold (the district said the capital reserve was created in May 2018); and the Oceanside Library’s annual operating budget (the district serves as a taxing authority for the library). Dr. Coakley listed potential capital projects that would be funded from the reserve if voters approve them, including full turf for varsity baseball and softball fields, turf at School 3, renovation of 10 tennis courts (with pickleball lines), two pickleball courts at School 6, and adding air conditioning to the high‑school band room.

The district will hold a budget hearing on May 8 and the budget vote is scheduled for May 21, 2024 (7 a.m.–9 p.m. at the Murrell Avenue Gym, School 6). Board members reiterated that the district is monitoring state budget developments and that any restoration of state aid would reduce reliance on reserves.

Audience members asked whether cuts to programs — including the arts — were under consideration; Dr. Coakley and board members responded that no cuts are on the table at this time and that the district’s first priority is preserving programs and staffing. "It's not about anything being cut," Dr. Coakley said, adding that the district will balance reductions across revenue sources before considering program eliminations.

Next steps: the board has adopted the propositions for placement on the ballot and will continue outreach and advocacy as the state budget evolves; the district encouraged residents to review materials on the district website ahead of the May vote.