Seaford leaders present 2024–25 budget proposal with 2.27% tax levy; $4.5M roof, $30M reserve on ballot

Seaford Union Free School District presenters on Feb. 28 asked the board to adopt a proposed 2024–25 budget that would set the tax levy at 2.27% and increase spending about 3.73% over the prior year. Andrew, a district presenter, said the plan uses preliminary county and Long Island data and the executive state budget proposal to set revenue assumptions.

The district expects to receive $965,000 in foundation aid under the executive proposal, Andrew said, and he emphasized the board could adopt the budget despite the state’s delay in passing a final budget. “We’re due to receive $965,000 in foundation aid,” he said.

Why it matters: district leaders said the package preserves current programs while funding several capital projects without issuing debt. The presentation noted the district will exhaust a tax-reduction reserve in 2024–25 following the sale of the Seaford Avenue property, creating an estimated $625,000 gap for 2025–26 that officials said they will need to address in the next budget cycle.

Key spending and propositions
- Proposition 2: Up to $4,500,000 to replace the middle school roof, address masonry work and repair a gym ceiling. Andrew said the middle school roof would be the first of four roofs the district plans to replace.
- Proposition 3: Create a 10-year capital reserve with a $30,000,000 cap and an annual funding limit of $3,000,000; the district would transfer existing saved funds into the reserve to seed future work.

Funding approach and savings
Andrew said the district plans to use capital reserves rather than bond financing for these projects; he estimated the district could avoid roughly $8,000,000 in interest costs that borrowing for all four roofs would incur. He also said the budget includes a planned $800,000 transfer to capital and a separate $4,000,000 transfer to help seed the new reserve.

Operational pressures
The presenter said salaries and benefits account for about 75% of the budget and that benefits cost increases required the budget to absorb roughly $1,600,000 this year (described as about $100,000 per month to catch up health bills). He also noted a modest decrease in debt service as an EPC contract ends.

Planned facility projects
Andrew outlined a list of projects the budget would fund or seed, including upgraded district security cameras and door-access systems, bathroom renovations at the Harbor, a stadium press-box and sound-system overhaul, refurbishment of the junior/senior cafeteria and conversion of an unused faculty cafeteria into a small student cafe, auditorium upgrades (seat and stage refinishing, new curtains and AV), and playground/site repairs such as turf replacement.

Administrative report
Dr. McClure delivered the administrative report before the budget presentation, praising staff response after a recent earthquake and noting sinkholes on district property that are under engineering review. “The kids were fine,” Dr. McClure said of the students’ response.

Next steps and procedural note
At the meeting presenters asked the board to adopt the budget; the transcript contains that request but does not record a roll-call or final vote on the budget resolution within the provided segments. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Reporting note: dollar figures, reserve limits and projected aid were presented by district staff during the meeting; where the presenters used preliminary state figures the district said those figures could change if the enacted state budget differs from the executive proposal.