Long Islanders voting on school budgets, as districts express uncertainty over finances

A Newsday survey of Long Island school districts holding budget votes Tuesday found that the largest number of respondents remain optimistic about their finances over the next several years, but that a growing number are uncertain or pessimistic.    

Across Nassau and Suffolk counties, residents of 124 school districts are going to polls Tuesday to vote on proposed school budgets totaling more than $16 billion. In Nassau County and western Suffolk, most polls open between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. On the East End, most voting starts at noon or later. Most polls are scheduled to close between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

In recent weeks, Newsday asked districts to describe their financial outlook for the next three years, as part of a questionnaire that also covered budgets and taxes for the 2025-26 school year. One big question raised by district officials in interviews was whether Washington, D.C., might impose cuts in federal funding in coming months that would have an impact on public schools here.

Of 114 systems responding to the survey – up from 104 last year – 50% expressed optimism about their future finances, 32% uncertainty and 18% pessimism. Comparable figures from polling last year were 56%, 28% and 16%, respectively. 

Massapequa, which enrolls about 6,400 students on Nassau County’s South Shore, identified itself as “very optimistic.” Local officials said their system maintains a strong credit rating, and that, if voters approve, planned upgrades of classrooms, art rooms and labs will be funded by $4 million drawn from existing capital reserves with no added cost to taxpayers.

“We’re heavy into long-range planning and making sure that there’s not too much in reserves, but just enough so you could weather any sort of downturn,” said Ryan Ruf, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, in a phone interview. Ruf is former president of a Nassau County group representing district business administrators. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers have approved an aid increase of more than $1.7 billion for schools statewide next year, while adding a caveat that has some school officials worried. An inserted budgetary "superpower" rule would allow the state to withhold aid, in the event it finds itself facing a fiscal deficit of $2 billion or more. 

On the Island, some longtime school leaders said the budgetary language reminded them of what happened in 1990, when the state got caught up in a nationwide economic slump. At the time, then-Gov. Mario Cuomo and legislators imposed midyear school aid cuts of $190 million. 

"The fact that we had it once is a warning that it could happen again," said Lorna Lewis, superintendent of Malverne schools and a former president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. 

Malverne, in its response to Newsday's survey, indicated that, due to uncertainties, it was not able to say whether financial prospects were cause for optimism or pessimism. 

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.