Riverhead school district voters approved a $211.4 million operating budget for the 2025-2026 school year Tuesday by a vote of 1,004 to 793 — a margin of 56% to 44%.
School board president James Scudder thanked the Blue Waves community for its support of the budget after District Clerk Dawn Bozuhoski read the results.
“It is through the remarkable support of our community that we can provide the outstanding academics, athletics, arts and music programs that allow our students to thrive and cultivate their talents and passions,” he said, reading a prepared statement.
Scudder also thanked the community for supporting the other ballot proposition, which allows the board to use $2.93 million in capital funds to renovate and improve the kitchens at the Riley Avenue and Phillips Avenue elementary school cafeterias. That proposition passed 1,188 to 590.
Scudder and trustee Matthew Wallace won the uncontested election for the two open seats on the Riverhead Board of Education. Scudder received 1,193 votes and Wallace received 1,272 votes. There were 106 write-in ballots cast.
Both trustees begin their new three-year terms on July 1.
“I look forward to continuing working with the rest of the board of ed, and look forward to working with the new superintendent and the new cabinet that we’re going to be building,” Wallace said of his reelection.
Scudder said he’s “glad to have the board that I have. It’s a really great board. We work well together. I’m going to just continue working,” he added.
The adopted budget of $211,434,500 is roughly $10 million more than the current school year’s operating budget — a 5% increase. It increases the tax levy by 2.16% — the maximum allowable under the school district’s tax levy cap — to generate an additional $2.3 million from property taxes.
Incoming Superintendent Bob Hagan said the budget’s passage will make his job “a lot easier” when he enters office on July 1. “I think they’ve done an amazing job,” he said of the administration crafting the budget. He added that the plan puts the district in a “great position to go forward.”
“Thank you to the community for supporting Riverhead public schools,” said Gregory Wallace, president of the Riverhead Central Faculty Association. “We’re happy that we received the support we need to pass the budget — and we have work to do. So now we can get to work.”
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
