Greenport School Budget Vote Results Are In: See How Residents Weighed In

GREENPORT, NY — Voters have spoken — and they turned out Tuesday in a big way to support their children at the Greenport Union Free School District budget vote.

Despite piercing the state-mandated tax-cap limit, the budget passed by a wide margin of 398 to 153.

Board of Education incumbent Kirsten Droskoski, who was running unopposed, received 444 votes.

The $25,995,000 budget represents a 3.58 percent decrease in spending. The budget also proposes a 7.91 percent tax levy that seeks to pierce the district's 3.04 percent tax-cap limit. A 60 percent supermajority vote was needed to pass the budget.

"The district has worked to examine revenue sources, streamline expenditures, and create operational efficiencies in developing the proposed 2026–2027 budget that maintains programs and services for students," Beth Doyle Superintendent, Greenport UFSD, wrote in the district's budget message. "While operating through fiscal challenges beyond our control, such as increased operating costs and relatively flat state aid allocations, this year’s process was particularly challenging.

"After careful consideration, the district is proposing a budget that exceeds the tax levy cap. As a result, adoption of this budget will require approval by a supermajority of voters. This decision was not made lightly. The district evaluated all available options before determining that this is the most responsible path forward. This approach is rooted in a clear priority: preserving the fullest range of programs, opportunities, and services that our students rely on every day. By putting this decision to voters, the district is ensuring that the community has a direct voice in maintaining the educational experience and strong foundation the district has built."

She added: "The proposed budget is designed to maintain small class sizes so students continue to receive individualized attention and support. It preserves transportation services that families depend on and sustains robust instructional programming, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses that prepare students for college and beyond. In addition, the budget maintains athletics and targeted extracurricular opportunities, while streamlining elective offerings based on student interest to better align resources with student needs. In response to the fiscal pressures that have significantly impacted budget planning, the district has taken meaningful steps to improve efficiency and contain costs. These measures include reductions in staffing, both instructional and administrative, aligned with current enrollment, along with other operational adjustments designed to maximize resources without compromising student programs.

"Additionally, the district is addressing a longstanding structural challenge: an overreliance on fund balance and reserves to close budget gaps. While this approach provided short-term stability in the past, it is not sustainable for the future. The current budget reflects a deliberate shift toward long-term financial health, with a focus on building a more stable and responsible fiscal plan. . . This budget reflects difficult but necessary choices to preserve what matters most for our students while building a more stable financial future. As always, our focus remains clear: the money meets the mission."