Jericho district officials proposed a 2.94% tax levy increase for the 2025-2026 school budget at the Thursday, March 13, Board of Education meeting. The total budget is estimated to be approximately $143.8 million, which is an increase of about $4 million from the previous year’s budget.
The district is expecting to meet its tax cap increase, which is 2.94%. The tax cap limits the maximum allowable increase to residents’ school and property taxes, she said. The current year’s maximum tax levy increase is based off factors such as the current tax levy, tax base growth factor and consumer price index.
Victor Manuel, assistant superintendent for business, said the maximum allowable tax levy for the upcoming year is 2.94%, which totals approximately $118.8 million. The 2024-2025 tax levy is $115.5 million.
The 2025-2026 budget is expected to total $143.8 million, an increase from last year’s $139.8 million.
“The overall budget to budget increase is 2.88%,” Manuel said.
Manuel said the district is anticipating an increase to its revenues, mainly from state aid funding, which is anticipated to increase by $500,000. Foundation Aid is set to account for over $7.3 million, while state aid as a whole will total in $10.3 million.
There is also a slight increase expected from the district’s PILOTs, Manuel said.
“Everything else is pretty much stable,” he said.
Manuel said the district is using almost $5.5 million from its appropriated fund balance for next year’s budget.
In addition to the regular budget, there is an additional proposition to allocate funds for districtwide projects to Jericho’s facilities. The proposition, totaling approximately $6.1 million from pre-existing capital reserves, which are dedicated to projects of the like, will appear on the ballot as Proposition No. 2. If the proposition is not passed, Manuel said the general budget funds would not be reduced.
If passed, Manuel said the electrical panels at the middle and high school will be upgraded, a permanent resolution from the basement’s flooding in November 2023. He said the building will be closed for a majority of the summer while the work is being done.
There will be a renovation of the Jackson Elementary School auditorium, window replacements to Cantiague School and the middle and high school building, districtwide bathroom renovations and exterior door replacements, Manuel said.
Manuel said the district feels confident that the proposition will be passed.
The board will adopt the budget March 20 and the community will vote on it on May 20.
In addition to budgeting, district officials gathered to share program highlights from each of the buildings’ programming.
“The money here in Jericho that goes to the elementary schools certainly supports a comprehensive, forward thinking approach to elementary education,” said Robert Seaman Elementary School principal Joanna Kletter.
She said programming is aimed to support critical thinking and spark curiosity. She said the district has made strides in hands-on learning and have implemented robotics and coding in the updated science curriculum.
“We utilize an interdisciplinary approach,” she said.
Kletter said there is a full-time library media specialist to support students in their digital and literary advancements as well. She said students have begun introductions to world languages in the elementary school, which stands out in comparison to neighboring elementary programs. Students have the opportunity to learn Spanish, French, Italian or Mandarin.
“The study of language not only helps students to speak, it exposes them to different cultures and helps them to develop global perspectives,” she said.
Kletter said the arts and music departments support student creativity, with students starting band, orchestra and chorus classes in the fourth grade.
“We have a lot to be proud of at the elementary level,” she said.
At the middle school level, there is a wide variety of programs and electives for students to chose from, said middle school principal Chad Gleason.
“Autonomy and choice are highly motivating,” he said. Between research opportunities and extracurricular, Gleason said students have the opportunity to choose to explore topics more in-depth.
The middle school’s advancements have been recognized from beyond the district, however.
He said U.S. News & World Report ranked Jericho as the No. 1 open enrollment suburban middle school in the state, and the National Forum to Accelarate Middle-Grades Reform designated Jericho as a “School to Watch.”
At the high school level, Interim Co-Principal Brian Cummings said the school offers a wide range of course offerings, including 27 Advanced Placement courses and 35 college-level courses in multiple disciplines.
“This gives students the opportunity to challenge their learning and to push themselves through any area of interest,” Cummings said.
In 2023-2024, the high school had a 99% graduation rate, with 99% graduating with a Regents diploma and 98% of the class attending college, Cummings said. He said students were recognized by competitions like Regeneron, NYSSMA, National Merit Scholastic Art Contest and Science Olympiad, among others.
Interim assistant principal David Mevs said the school has seven councelors, two psychologists and a social worker to help students manage academic stress. He said the team is there to “support our students with all their needs.”
He said the school is partnering with Northwell Health and will attend an assembly about how to cope with school-related stress.
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