Superintendent Unveils $218.9M 2026-27 Budget; Spending Up 3.52%, Levy Within 2.91% Cap

Riverhead Central School District officials presented the superintendent’s preliminary 2026–27 budget on March 4, proposing a $218,880,000 spending plan that would raise overall spending 3.52%, about $7.45 million, and keep the tax levy increase within the district’s state-calculated 2.91% cap. Residents got a first look at the plan Wednesday night at the public presentation.

The proposed 2026–27 increase follows last year’s jump to a $211,434,000 budget for 2025–26, when the district approved a $9.9 million rise described as nearly 5% that school officials said also would not pierce the state tax cap. In the 2025–26 plan, officials directed $7.7 million of the $9.9 million increase to instructional programs, and that pattern of instructional spending remains central to the district’s budget narrative as officials advance the preliminary $218.88 million proposal.

Capital and operating pressures from the prior budget illustrate where new dollars can land. For 2025–26, three capital projects were included and described as funded at no additional cost to taxpayers through an energy use agreement that pays projects from retained savings; the cafeteria program financed a $1.2 million renovation at Riley Avenue and a $1.7 million renovation at Phillips Avenue. The 2025–26 budget also included a $400,000 increase for buildings and grounds, the district office and property insurance.

The district is also contending with rising BOCES tuition and out-of-district placements. “What is happening is, if you look in the 2019-20 year, we sent 140 students to BOCES for occupational education. That was great. The tuition was nearly $14,000 [per student],” said Ms. Cartisano. “In the 2020-21 year, coming out of COVID, we jump from 140 to 178, then 222, 220, 229. I have budgeted for 224 students for next year. That means almost doubling in five years. So now, you’ve gone from $1.9 million to this current year … and with the projected increase in tuition from $15,500 to $16,000, next year’s budget is nearly $3.6 million.” The district set special education costs for students in BOCES programs at $3.8 million and says some placements are out of district “due to the lack of available space in existing facilities.”

District officials emphasized the levy cap compliance as they unveiled the preliminary numbers on March 4, telling residents the plan keeps the tax levy increase within the 2.91% state-calculated cap. The presentation Wednesday night provided the community’s first detailed look; district leaders will continue board-level review and public discussion as the tentative $218.88 million plan moves toward finalization and the budget vote process this spring.