Sachem school budget to remain within tax cap limits after override failure

Sachem school authorities have announced tentative plans to keep their budget within state tax cap limits in 2024-25 after failing to override those restrictions in a public vote last week.

Superintendent Christopher Pellettieri, in a message to community residents, said school board trustees had agreed on “developing a proposed tax cap-compliant budget” that would keep within the district’s state-assigned limit. This would allow a property tax increase of no more than 1.92% during the next school year.

During statewide school district voting, Sachem’s proposed 4.87% tax increase failed to win a 60% voter majority required for overrides under the state’s strict cap law. The defeated package also included a proposed budget of $377.3 million, up 3.7% from the current year's figure. 

The local vote was 4,176 in favor, 4,127 opposed — a majority of just over 50%.

Sachem is Long Island's second-biggest district, with a student enrollment of nearly 12,000. 

At a follow-up board meeting on Wednesday, Sachem officials outlined a list of potential budget cuts. These included small increases in elementary class sizes and elimination of elementary foreign-language lessons, as well reductions in numbers of teachers, social workers, librarians and security guards. 

In addition, the district would draw down more than $3 million in reserve funds, rather than raising those revenues through taxation. Some audience members at the meeting voiced fears that reductions in reserves could produce greater fiscal stresses in the future. 

"I am terrified," said Philip Barbera, president of Sachem's teacher union. 

Pellettieri’s message, issued Thursday, said detailed figures would be released at another meeting Tuesday, when the board is scheduled to approve a revised budget plan. The meeting is to start at 7 p.m. in the board room at Samoset Middle School. 

"Following the defeat of our budget earlier this month, we have faced tough decisions," stated the school chief's message.

Across the state, revotes will be held June 18 in districts where budgets were rejected in the first round. West Babylon also has decided to stay within its cap for the second round. Sachem and West Babylon were the only two school districts of 124 on Long Island where budgets failed in voting May 21. 

Budgets keeping within caps need only simple majorities to pass. However, any districts losing two votes in a row face tax freezes in the following year.

"They'll stay within the cap or get nothing — that's their choice," said Fred Gorman, a Sachem resident and former taxpayer advocate who protested Sachem's override attempt. 

By John Hildebrand

john.hildebrand@newsday.com@johnhnewsday

John Hildebrand is Newsday's senior education writer and has covered school news and policy issues affecting Long Island for more than 40 years.