State comptroller: Five Suffolk school districts seek tax cap override

Five Long Island school districts, all in Suffolk, are asking voters to approve an override of their state-imposed property tax caps — more than twice as many as last year, according to the state comptroller’s office.

The trend mirrors one occurring statewide, according to Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, who said in a statement that 6 percent, or 36, of 601 school districts reporting their intentions are seeking overrides this year. Only 3.5 percent tried to bust the cap last year.

“School districts are feeling the impact of a historically low tax levy limit,” said DiNapoli. “Although district administrators and school boards have been reluctant to exceed the tax cap, this year’s limit seems to have left some districts with limited options. As school budget planning continues over the next few weeks, we may see additional districts deciding to seek voter approval for an override.”

On Long Island, Sachem, Amagansett, Shelter Island, Bridgehampton and Greenport told state officials they will seek an override this year. No Nassau districts have said they would. District officials could not be reached for comment.

Officials in the Port Washington school district have also said they are considering piercing the limit. District officials said this year’s local 0.65 percent cap on any tax increase puts far too tight a clamp on the budget to accommodate growing enrollment.

In 2015, on Long Island, only East Meadow and Patchogue-Medford school systems sought overrides. That year, voters passed East Meadow’s budget but Patchogue-Medford voters rejected it and later passed a budget that fell within the tax cap.

The tax cap, DiNapoli explained, “limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with certain exceptions.” But the cap can be busted, generating more revenue for schools, if 60 percent of voters in the district approve it.

State officials said that some districts have been saddled with tax caps for 2016-2017 that allow less revenue than the current year. Those districts, 76 of the 601 reporting their intentions, are facing what the comptroller called “negative” levy limits: To remain within their allowable limits, the districts would have to cut taxes or bust the tax cap.

Twenty of the 76 districts with negative levy limits are seeking overrides for the 2016-2017 year, DiNapoli said.

School budget elections are May 17.