The Riverhead Central School District Board of Education adopted a $218.88 million proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year Wednesday night, advancing a spending plan the district’s top business official described as tightly constrained by rising costs in special education, transportation, benefits and charter-school spending.
The proposed budget represents a 3.52% increase over the current year. The associated tax levy increase is 2.91%, remaining within the district’s state-imposed property tax levy cap.
The board adopted the budget and property tax report card at the close of Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business Marianne Cartisano’s third public budget presentation, which focused on the major cost drivers in the spending plan and on what she said is the growing burden of charter-school costs on the district.
“This is a very complicated budget,” Cartisano said, noting that the district is building it without final state aid numbers because the state budget had not yet been adopted by April 1.
She said the district’s largest cost increases are concentrated in a handful of areas, with special education, special education transportation, charter-school costs, property insurance and home-to-school transportation driving the spending plan. Cartisano said the district is seeing a $2.6 million increase in special education costs and a $1.4 million increase in special education transportation, which she attributed to mandated services, increased enrollment and lack of physical space to educate all students in district buildings.
Cartisano also sought to address concerns about staffing.
She said the district is “not excessing 28 staff members,” apparently referring to staff cuts made in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Instead, she said the district is looking for efficiencies through attrition tied to retirements and is still evaluating staffing needs as kindergarten registration continues, secondary schedules are finalized and special education placements are completed.
The staffing plan remains fluid, she said, but the district is committed to maintaining its pre-K staffing and does not plan any cuts to co-curricular offerings, including athletics, music, drama and student clubs.
Cartisano also outlined changes in the district’s dual-language program for next year. She said the district is not planning to offer dual-language kindergarten at Riley Avenue, Roanoke Avenue and Aquebogue next year, though existing classes in those buildings would continue to move up a grade level. At Phillips Avenue, the district plans to add kindergarten and continue operating a K-4 dual-language program.
Much of the presentation focused on the cost of students attending Riverhead Charter School.
Cartisano said the district has worked to better capture not just tuition costs, but the full range of expenses associated with charter-school attendance, including special education services, transportation, textbooks, nursing services, supplies and substitute coverage.
She said those costs total about $18.2 million in the current year and are projected to exceed $19 million in 2026-27.
Cartisano called that one of the largest single budget drivers facing the district and argued that the funding formula places an unfair burden on Riverhead taxpayers.
She said the district is required to make those payments regardless of whether voters approve the budget.
The board adopted the proposed budget to be presented to voters at a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at Riverhead Middle School.
District voters will cast ballots on the budget and school board election from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Riverhead High School.
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.
