Kings Park board adopts $113.34 million budget, sets levy increase at 2.99%

The Kings Park Central School District Board of Education adopted its proposed 2026–27 spending plan on April 21, approving a $113,341,957 budget and setting the property tax levy increase at 2.99.

Superintendent Dr. Egan told the board that the district is recommending budget adoption while assuming a 2% increase in state aid, and he cited key cost drivers including inflation, a projected $100,000 rise in general liability insurance (about a 14% increase), rising special‑education costs and higher fuel and facility expenses. "Tonight is April 21st and it is budget adoption night," Dr. Egan said during his presentation.

The proposed budget represents a 3.19% increase from the prior year’s budget. Dr. Egan estimated the average homeowner impact at roughly $316 annually, about $26 per month, and warned of deeper cuts if a district budget fails: "If our budget were to fail twice, by law, the tax levy can't increase at all; that would require us to have to cut approximately $2.5 million out of the budget," he said.

Board members discussed the district’s decision to apply reserves to balance this year’s plan while aiming to replenish them over time. Trustees said the approach preserved programs and staff levels without immediate reductions.

Votes at a glance

- Budget adoption: Motion to adopt the 2026–27 budget in the amount of $113,341,957 — approved by the board (voice vote). The board also approved transmission of the property tax report card to the New York State Education Department as required.
- Personnel schedule No. 14: Board accepted the personnel schedule — approved by voice vote.
- Budget transfer: Authorized transfer of $115,000 to cover higher winter heating and water costs ($100,000 heating; $15,000 water) — approved.
- Other routine approvals: field trips (see separate article), data‑privacy agreement under Education Law 2‑d, vendor additions, equipment disposal, service contracts for 2026–27, CSSE IEP approvals, and health service agreements with neighboring districts were approved by voice votes.

The board noted key dates tied to the budget process: a public budget hearing on May 12 and the districtwide budget vote and school board election scheduled for May 19, to be held at Kings Park High School from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Why it mattered

District leaders said the adopted plan preserves current programs while responding to cost pressures, relying in part on reserves to bridge uncertainty in final state aid numbers. The board framed the decision as a measured approach that avoids immediate staff cuts while maintaining commitments to literacy, technology, mental‑health staffing and extracurricular programs.

What’s next

The budget will go before voters on May 19. If voters reject the plan and subsequent remedial budgets also fail, the district faces legally required reductions and the levy cannot be increased.