Northport-East Northport Budget Preview, Candidates On Ballot for 2026-2027

NORTPORT, NY — Northport-East Northport Union Free School District residents will head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, to vote on the district’s proposed $195,126,448 budget for the 2026-27 school year, along with two propositions and Board of Education elections.

District officials said the proposed spending plan represents a 1.99 percent increase over the current year’s budget and includes a 2.26 percent tax levy increase, remaining within the district’s allowable tax levy cap for the 15th consecutive year.

The proposed budget includes funding to maintain academic, athletic, arts and extracurricular programming while continuing capital improvements and districtwide security enhancements.

District officials said the budget was developed amid rising employee benefit costs, including health insurance premiums, as well as projected increases in insurance and utility expenses. According to the district, employee benefit costs alone are projected to rise by more than 8.79 percent, totaling an increase of more than $1.37 million.

The district said those increases were partially offset through retirements, staffing adjustments, efficiencies in discretionary spending and the use of in-house staff for facilities and grounds projects.

The proposed budget includes:

$95,051,200 for salaries
$49,350,526 for employee benefits
$36,200,701 for other services
$4,545,000 in transfers to the capital fund for districtwide improvement projects

Capital projects funded through the budget include roof and HVAC repairs and replacements districtwide, electrical upgrades at East Northport Middle School, security and communications upgrades, districtwide bathroom renovations and renovations to auditoriums and lobby spaces.

The budget also includes funding for the purchase of three gasoline-powered school buses and a planned four-year BOCES technology lease for Chromebooks and network upgrades.

District officials noted the proposed budget continues to support the district’s “Profile of a Graduate” initiative while preserving small class sizes and student social-emotional support services.

Propositions On The Ballot

In addition to the budget vote, residents will decide on two separate propositions.

One proposition would authorize the district to expend $2 million from the Capital Reserve Fund for districtwide roof replacements and HVAC renovations. District officials said approval of the proposition would result in no additional tax impact because the funds have already been set aside in reserves.

A second proposition would authorize the district to purchase property located at 24 Railroad Avenue in East Northport for an amount not to exceed $4,050,000, including closing costs.

According to the district, the site was previously used as a transportation facility and would provide additional operational flexibility and potential long-term cost savings.

Board Of Education Election

There are two open seats on the Board of Education.

Donna McNaughton is the only candidate who submitted a nominating petition and whose name will appear on the ballot. Voters may also cast write-in votes for additional candidates.

According to the district, East Northport residents Carl Lawrence and Mark Zaharis announced their candidacies after the April 20 deadline to submit nominating petitions to the district clerk.

One of the two candidates will assume the seat of trustee for a three-year term.

McNaughton, a longtime district resident and current board member, previously served as vice president of the Board of Education and has held leadership roles in multiple PTA organizations throughout the district.

In her candidate statement, McNaughton said maintaining educational quality while remaining fiscally responsible is among the district’s biggest challenges moving forward.

Voting Information

Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Dickinson Avenue Elementary School, Fifth Avenue Elementary School and the William J. Brosnan building. Residents must vote at their designated polling place.

Absentee ballot and early mail voting ballot applications are available through the Office of the District Clerk at the William J. Brosnan building.

To vote, residents must be United States citizens, at least 18 years old and district residents for at least 30 days prior to the election.