The Locust Valley Central School District is preparing to have residentsvoteon a revised version of its 2026-2027 budget after the community failed to approve it.
Locust Valleyresidents voted down the district’s $100,251,364 budget, which included a 2.10% tax levy increase for the 2026-2027 school year, with 850 votes against and 765 for, on Tuesday, May 19.
The proposedbudgetmarked a $1,962,216, or 2.00%, increase from the district’s current budget.
The district’s Board of Education thanked the community for voting in the election, noting that the margin of failure was small, and said it “remains proud of the thoughtful and fiscally responsible budget that was presented, which supports educational excellence, student opportunities, and the long-term needs of the district while remaining mindful of our taxpayers,” in a statement.
“As we prepare for a second vote next month, we encourage our community to stay engaged and continue learning about the proposed budget, its impact on our students and schools, and the importance of participating in the upcoming revote,” the board said.
The district will have residents vote on a revised budget on Tuesday, June 16, and according to its website, it willprovide updates up until the vote.
If residents again decide to vote down the proposed budget, the district will adopt a contingency budget July 1, which will have no increase in the tax levy and spending reductions to offset rising costs.
The district’s proposed budget maintained all current academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs, preserved small class sizes, expanded course offerings in areas such as engineering and accounting, strengthened literacy and science programming, and supported arts, music, and film programs, according to the district’s budget hearings leading up to the May vote. It also includes security upgrades to school buildings and continued investment in leadership and career readiness opportunities for students, according to the budget hearings.
At the same time that the district’s budget was voted down, the community approveda proposition on the ballot, 981 to 613, which allows the district to provide transportation for all students, regardless of their distance from the school building. The half-mile limit for grades 1-5 and the one-mile limit for grades 6-12 will be reduced, and the 15-mile maximum limit will increase to 18 miles at no additional cost to the district.
The policy update protects existing bus routes for in-district and private school resident families, according to the district.
Source: LI Press
