Voters in the Port Washington Union Free School District will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 19, to vote on a proposed $205.8 millionbudget for the 2026-27 school year, along with two capital-related propositions and the election of two board of education members.

The proposed 2026-27 budget totals $205,824,844, an increase of $6,817,716, or 3.31%, from the 2025-26 budget of $199,007,128. The proposed tax levy increase over last year is 3.25%, according to district figures.

Based on enrollment data from the New York State Education Department showing 5,266 students in the district during the 2025-26 school year, the proposed spending plan equates to approximately $39,086 per pupil.

In addition to the budget vote, residents will decide on two propositions tied to district facilities and reserve funding.

Proposition No. 2 would authorize continued funding of the district’s Repair Reserve Fund. If approved, the measure would allow the Board of Education to place money into the reserve through appropriations included in future annual budgets approved by voters.

The proposition would also permit the board to transfer surplus funds from the district’s unassigned fund balance at the end of a fiscal year into the reserve fund through board resolutions adopted by June 30 of a given year.

District officials use repair reserve funds to pay for nonrecurring repairs to school buildings and infrastructure without the need for additional borrowing or emergency financing.

Proposition No. 3 would authorize the district to spend up to $3.5 million from the existing “Facilities Improvement Program 1 – Port Washington UFSD” capital reserve fund, which was established by voters in 2022.

The funding would be used for districtwide repairs, renovations and upgrades to electrical and HVAC systems at schools throughout the district. According to the proposition, the work would include the replacement, reconstruction and installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, along with related controls and infrastructure.

The measure would allow the district to use reserve funds already set aside for capital improvements rather than issuing new debt for the projects.

Source: LI Press