South Country school board adopts budget with 13% tax levy hike

The South Country school board adopted a spending plan on Wednesday to raise the tax levy by 13.45%, an unusually high tax hike that school officials said is necessary to fill a multimillion-dollar shortfall in its 2026-27 budget.

The levy increase pierces South Country’s cap of 5.52%, meaning at least 60% of the voters would have to approve the budget in the May 19 public vote. For an average homeowner, the tax hike means an additional $749 per year in their school taxes.

If voters approve a money-saving proposition to allow South Country to reduce the transportation radius for children attending private schools, the levy increase would be 12.19%, meaning a yearly increase of $666 for an average homeowner.

District officials said this budget proposal would preserve core programs and allow the district to stabilize its finances.

“This budget isn't just about eliminating a deficit,” Superintendent Antonio Santana said. “It's about creating stability, rebuilding trust and putting this district in a position to move forward with confidence.”

The vote Wednesday night at Bellport Middle School was 6-1, with Trustee Cheryl Felice casting the sole dissenting vote.

District officials previously presented board members three possible options to make up a $5.67 million budget gap: raise the levy by 13.45%; increase it by 9.26% and reduce the budget by an additional $3 million; or absorb the shortfall by cutting more positions and programs.

John Belmonte, the district's acting assistant superintendent for finance and management services, said the district has already shaved nearly $9 million off its $150.5 million spending plan, including additional administrative jobs since a budget presentation last week.

Any further reduction, he said during a meeting Monday, would mean going down to “the meat and the bones.”

Seeking a tax cap override has historically been difficult and would come at a time when taxpayers have questioned how district officials handled past budgets.

The state’s deputy comptroller earlier this month found district officials significantly underbudgeted costs and used one-time funding for recurring expenses.

Belmonte emphasized that the 2026-27 budget is one built on real numbers.

“It was based on actual numbers, based on contracts, based on existing historical costs,” he said Wednesday. “There was really no guesswork that went into that budget.”

Public criticism

District officials have faced criticism over their handling of the budgeting process and oversight of the district’s finances.

Before a school board meeting on Monday, Gregory C. Miglino Jr., a former board member, called on the State Attorney General’s Office to investigate. The AG's office on Tuesday declined to comment.

A separate petition circulated by parents called for Santana to step down, saying he has been “ineffective and incompetent.” Abena Asare, a parent, said more than 130 community members have signed the petition.

In a statement Wednesday, Santana said he understood the community’s anger but noted the district has changed leadership in its business office and he intends to “continue coming to work every day.”

“I will continue to work with our Board and our community to navigate these challenges and return our district to a strong financial footing,” he wrote.

Critics in recent months have pointed to the district’s overspending of the voter-approved 2024-25 budget by $3.5 million.

Despite freezing discretionary spending since last fall, the district will have a $10.5 million deficit by the end of June, the comptroller’s office projected. For 2026-27, the district is facing a $5.67 million shortfall even after eliminating dozens of staffing positions.

South Country is scheduled to hold a budget hearing on May 6 before the May 19 vote.