Long Island school property taxes could rise an average of 2.62% in 2025-26

School property taxes for the 2025-26 academic year could rise an average of 2.62% on Long Island, according to figures collected by the state Comptroller's Office and released at Newsday's request.

Early projections show that a majority of Island school districts — 69 of 124 — are keeping proposed tax increases below the inflation rate, a Newsday analysis found. Current inflation is running at 2.8%, down from 3% in February.

Some districts, however, project tax-levy increases well above the average. East Meadow reported a potential 3.71% jump; Mount Sinai 3.95%; and East Hampton 5.34%.

Despite these large proposed increases, Newsday determined that no district so far has called for a voter override of the state's tax-cap limits, which requires approval by at least 60% of local voters. That's in marked contrast with last year's school-budget season, when six districts attempted to bust their caps, and half succeeded. 

In dollar terms, school property tax revenues are projected to top $5 billion in Nassau County during the next school year, and $4.9 billion in Suffolk County. Typically, that money accounts for more than two-thirds of homeowners' tax bills across the region.

Early alert system

Newsday's review of Islandwide tax projections was based on preliminary estimates collected each year by the state Comptroller's Office as a sort of early alert system for taxpayers. Figures are subject to change before districts hold public budget votes on May 20. 

Since 2012, growth in taxation by school districts and municipalities has been restricted by a statewide cap law. It limits annual property tax increases to a baseline 2% or the inflation rate, whichever is lower. In some years before the cap took effect, tax levies averaged as much as 6%. 

The statewide limit for 2025-26 has been set by the maximum 2% for the fourth year in a row. Tax increases in individual school districts can run either higher or lower, depending on local financial circumstances. For example, approval by local voters of a multimillion-dollar school construction bond issue can significantly increase taxes, because costs of bond repayment are exempt from state caps. 

Local educators described their districts as caught in a squeeze between rising costs, cap controls and what they argue is limited state aid. Some district administrators interviewed by phone said it was too early to know if extra money from Albany would be enough to substantially lower local tax requests.

"It's challenging, really challenging," said Christine Criscione, the schools superintendent in Mount Sinai. "But if the state comes up with a significant increase in money, we'd love to pass along the savings to our taxpayers."

In Albany, the Democratic majorities of the Senate and Assembly this week proposed increases in school spending beyond the $825 million, or 2.4% increase, put forward by Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive budget in January. Under law, a final state budget is due for adoption on April 1.

"Boards of education will continue to make difficult choices to balance their budgets with the help of state financial aid," said Robert Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, in an email message to Newsday. "That is why we are hoping that the Governor and the Legislature assist districts by increasing the aid our region should receive." 

But continued tax growth angered taxpayer advocate Andrea Vecchio, who said the Island's school population has dwindled for years and continues to decline in most districts. 

"There shouldn't be any increase at all — it doesn't make sense," said Vecchio, no relation to Robert Vecchio. "Taxes should be decreasing, and budgets need to be lower."

Vecchio, of East Islip, is a founding member of a regional taxpayer group known as Long Islanders for Educational Reform.

Financial pressures

East Meadow had reported a 3.71% increase to the state but Superintendent Kenneth Rosner told Newsday in a prepared statement that his district recently trimmed its projected tax-levy increase to 3.4%, "with further work to be done."

Joshua Odom, now in his second year as Montauk's superintendent, said his district's projected 14.13% tax hike for 2025-26 stemmed from a discovery in 2023 that residents had been overtaxed due to a clerical error. As a result, Montauk in 2024-25 provided residents with a tax credit of $1.7 million, or 13%. The net effect is that Montauk's projection for next year represents a relatively small increase in taxation, after the credit is factored in, Odom said. 

"It creates a unique situation for taxpayers in Montauk, but I'm very grateful for everyone's support and understanding," the superintendent said. 

In Lindenhurst, frustration over costs have focused on the district's 56-year-old swimming pool.

On March 5, more than 100 residents showed up for a meeting in which district officials said the pool's pump room required quick repairs as a safety measure. Officials went on to say that the district faced a choice of either shutting down the pool or repairing the entire facility at an estimated cost ranging between $1.3 million and $2.7 million, depending on the extent of renovations. 

That set off a two-hour debate, with residents arguing in support of and against the repairs. 

"The pool at Lindenhurst High School provides a critical role in our waterfront community," said one speaker, Jennifer Ryan, a mother of two students who teaches in another district. 

Another speaker, John Lisi, a civic-group leader and retired corporate personnel director, dismissed the idea of a pool renovation. Lisi contended that the district already faced the prospect of spending millions of dollars in other repairs of school buildings and that these were a higher priority than the pool. 

"Perhaps the pool just needs to go away," Lisi said.