The Farmingdale Board of Education decreased its estimated 2025-26 academic budget by roughly $700,000 at its second budget meeting for the 2025-26 academic year on Wednesday, March 19.
The district proposed a $207,026,202 budget for the 2025-26 academic year at its first budget meeting on Feb. 25.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Michael Motisi now said the proposed number has dropped to $206,342,592. That marks a 3.15% increase from the district’s current $200,035,010 budget.
The district also lowered its allowable tax levy cap from $144,616,594 to $143,932,984 for the upcoming school year. That marks a 2.49% increase.
The only new slide from Wednesday’s presentation highlighted the district’s transportation. Farmingdale buses 4,250 students within the district, 221 students to parentally placed private schools and 85 students to special education private schools, or BOCES.
The district’s total transportation budget will be $10,168,310, the same as it was reported in February, an increase of 11.7%. According to the board, Farmingdale will enter a new five-year contract with Educational Bus next year.
The funding breakdown that the district provided in February stayed the same as the district said it shows 72% of funding coming from property taxes and pay agreements, 24% from state aid, and the remaining 4% from other sources.
The district said changes will continue to be made as the process continues. The next budget meetings will be March 26, which will also include a period for public input. The budget will be adopted April 9 and heard May 13. Community members will then vote May 20 for the 2025-26 budget at the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School Aquatic Center.
