Malverne board presents $75M 2026–27 budget with 2.29% tax‑levy increase; parent urges field safety over $230,000 library reconfiguration

Administrators for the Malverne Union Free School District on Monday presented a proposed 2026–27 budget of just over $75 million that holds the tax levy increase at 2.29%, the maximum allowable under New York State’s tax‑cap formula, and relies on approximately $1,593,530 in reserves to close the gap.

Chris Caputo, who led the budget overview, said preliminary state foundation aid for the district rose by about 1 percent in the state figures released in late January, with Albany’s final budget still pending. He said the proposed plan preserves instruction, athletics, music and arts programs and aligns with the district’s five‑year strategic plan.

“The proposed tax levy increase next year will be 2.29%,” Caputo said. He added that instruction and benefits together account for roughly 78 percent of the spending plan, general support is just over 10 percent, and debt service for bonds and prior capital projects is about 3.5 percent.

The presentation included a capital transfer as part of Proposition One: a roughly $230,000 reconfiguration of the Maurice W. Downing Library to divide the existing ~2,000‑square‑foot room into two spaces, allowing simultaneous professional development and student use and providing optional classroom space in the future. Officials said the library change is included in the annual budget proposition rather than as a separate ballot question.

During public comment, parent and district resident Matthews Willick urged the board to reconsider the Downing project and prioritize safety improvements to the field behind Herbert Middle School, which he said is uneven, muddy and causes injuries. “When we talk about fiscal responsibility, I don’t want to see that in the district for mistakes like this,” Willick said, asking the board to postpone the library renovation and address the field instead.

A board member and district administrators responded that the $230,000 is capital outlay for the library reconfiguration and that improvements to the field will be addressed through the regular budget and in multi‑phase work. Officials said the district is exploring alternative funding, including grants and donations, and that community updates will be provided as plans develop. They also noted recent use of capital reserves, including about $1.3 million used last year for windows and other building upgrades.

Caputo outlined contingency options if voters reject the budget on May 19: the board may resubmit the same budget in June, submit a revised budget in June, or adopt a contingent budget that would require removing just over $1.1 million from the proposed plan.

The district also reviewed schedule items related to the budget process, including local PTA budget review meetings, the public budget hearing on May 12, and the May 19 budget and trustee vote, with polling hours and locations announced.

The board approved routine consent items 10 through 14 by voice vote at the meeting. The proposed 2026–27 budget will go to voters on May 19; if approved, the tax levy will be set at the proposed amount.