Babylon School Budget Preview, Candidates On Ballot For 2026-2027

BABYLON, NY — Babylon residents will head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, to vote on the Babylon School District's proposed $50,231,886 budget for the 2026-27 school year, along with two capital reserve propositions and Board of Trustees races.

District officials said the proposed spending plan increases the tax levy by 2.87 percent, remaining within New York State’s tax cap. The proposed budget represents a 2.79 percent increase over the current year’s budget.

According to the district, the budget was developed amid rising inflation and increasing health insurance costs that have outpaced state aid growth. Despite those pressures, officials said the spending plan preserves all academic programs, extracurricular activities and student services.

The budget also includes targeted staffing increases to support special education services and maintain class sizes across grade levels. Planned security enhancements include the purchase of a security vehicle for roving district coverage, upgrades to door access control systems and additional security cameras, primarily on the high school campus.

Facility improvements are also planned, including replacement flooring at Babylon Memorial Grade School and additional projects to be funded through capital transfers.

“This budget was not constructed lightly,” Superintendent Carisa A. Manza and Board of Education President Linda Jurs wrote in the district message. “Our business office went line by line through every expense, revised revenue estimates, reclassified certain expenditures, and made strategic use of reserves to ensure maximum financial efficiency.”

Capital Reserve Propositions

In addition to the budget vote, residents will be asked to approve the use of reserve funds for two capital projects at no additional cost to taxpayers.

The district is seeking authorization to spend up to $475,000 from its Capital Reserve Fund to expand the parking lot at Babylon Elementary School. The proposal would also authorize the use of up to $200,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund for replacement of the oil tank, piping and monitoring system at Babylon Memorial Grade School.

Board Of Trustees Election

Voters will also elect candidates to three open seats on the Board of Trustees.

Incumbents Catherine Wieland and Robert Verdi are seeking re-election. They are being challenged by Marissa Sciremammano and Thomas Bruckner.

District Highlights

District officials highlighted several academic, athletic and arts accomplishments from the current school year.

Babylon High School earned the College Board’s 2025 AP School Honor Roll Platinum distinction, while 95 students received AP Scholar recognition.

The boys’ soccer team captured a Long Island Championship, while the girls’ soccer and girls’ basketball teams each won Suffolk County titles. Babylon student-athletes also qualified for state championships in cross country, swimming and gymnastics.

Babylon High School was also recognized by the New York State Art Teachers Association as a Community of Excellence in Visual Arts, and all 110 students in the Class of 2025 graduated, with 73 percent earning an Advanced Regents Diploma.

According to the district budget notice, the estimated Basic STAR exemption savings for the 2026-27 school year are $921.

Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Babylon Junior-Senior High School East Gym. A public budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Babylon Junior-Senior High School Library.