North Fork School Budget Votes Tuesday: What You Need To Know

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Voters will head to the poll Tuesday to weigh in on North Fork school budgets and Board of Education races.

Greenport

The proposed $25,995,000 budget represents a 3.58 percent decrease in spending. The budget also proposes a 7.91 percent tax levy that seeks to pierce the district's 3.04 percent tax-cap limit. A 60 percent vote is needed to pass the budget.

"The district has worked to examine revenue sources, streamline expenditures, and create operational efficiencies in developing the proposed 2026–2027 budget that maintains programs and services for students," Beth Doyle Superintendent, Greenport UFSD, wrote in the district's budget message. "While operating through fiscal challenges beyond our control, such as increased operating costs and relatively flat state aid allocations, this year’s process was particularly challenging.

"After careful consideration, the district is proposing a budget that exceeds the tax levy cap. As a result, adoption of this budget will require approval by a supermajority of voters. This decision was not made lightly. The district evaluated all available options before determining that this is the most responsible path forward. This approach is rooted in a clear priority: preserving the fullest range of programs, opportunities, and services that our students rely on every day. By putting this decision to voters, the district is ensuring that the community has a direct voice in maintaining the educational experience and strong foundation the district has built."

She added: "The proposed budget is designed to maintain small class sizes so students continue to receive individualized attention and support. It preserves transportation services that families depend on and sustains robust instructional programming, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses that prepare students for college and beyond. In addition, the budget maintains athletics and targeted extracurricular opportunities, while streamlining elective offerings based on student interest to better align resources with student needs. In response to the fiscal pressures that have significantly impacted budget planning, the district has taken meaningful steps to improve efficiency and contain costs. These measures include reductions in staffing, both instructional and administrative, aligned with current enrollment, along with other operational adjustments designed to maximize resources without compromising student programs.

"Additionally, the district is addressing a longstanding structural challenge: an overreliance on fund balance and reserves to close budget gaps. While this approach provided short-term stability in the past, it is not sustainable for the future. The current budget reflects a deliberate shift toward long-term financial health, with a focus on building a more stable and responsible fiscal plan. . . This budget reflects difficult but necessary choices to preserve what matters most for our students while building a more stable financial future. As always, our focus remains clear: the money meets the mission."

Board of education candidate and incumbent Kirsten Droskoski is running unopposed to retain her seat.

Southold Union Free School District

The Southold Union Free School District's proposed $36,797,500 budget represents a 3.28 percent increase, while the proposed 2.71 percent tax levy cap levy increase falls within the district's 2.72 percent tax-cap limit.

Running for the Board of Education are incumbents Thomas Grattan Jr., Dawn Hagerman and Scott Latham; all are running unopposed.

The candidate with the third highest votes will serve a one-year term, after the death of BOE President Paulette Ofrias; Hagerman stepped into that role after her loss.

The budget vote takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Southold High School gym on Oaklawn Avenue.

Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District

The district's proposed $48,257,045 budget represents an increase in spending of $1,491,603, or 3.1 percent. The tax levy increase reflects an increase from $42,167,665 to $43,275,868, or $1,108,203 — the 2.63 percent falls within the district's tax cap limit.

"Each year our school district, Board of Education and community come together to celebrate the robust and unique educational program we have built here in Mattituck-Cutchogue — one that our community has long since come to value and stand behind throughout the year," Patricia Arslanian president of the Mattituck-Cutchogue school board wrote in the district's budget message.

"This year, our district has continued to offer the smallest class sizes on the East End, providing our students with the support and guidance they need. Offering a plethora of extracurricular activities allows our elementary kids to explore areas of creativity they show an interest in outside of their academic lives while offering time for them to socialize with their peers," she said.

She added: "The Extended Learning plan in place for our youngest students has increased achievement and allowed our struggling learners to improve their academic experience. As we work to prepare our students for life after graduation, we are proud to offer programs that are aligned with college and career paths alike. Our older students are benefiting from an in-house carpentry class and AP classes that prepare them for college and the arts that highlight their stage presence, musical talents and ability to capture their creativity with paint, photography and areas of multiple media."

In addition, Arslanian said: "Our graduation rates continue to soar, and the board continues to support the administrators who lead our district every day. Our infrastructure has never been better. The completion of our high school cupola, the grounds blooming throughout the seasons in both buildings, the addition of air conditioning in both buildings and the daily maintenance that keeps our district moving is a credit to the crews that work so hard using their expertise to make repairs and the administrators that keep us informed of the work necessary to ensure our outside is as beautiful as our inside."

The proposed 2026-2027 budget, she said, "continues the momentum we have built in recent years and works to support our school community’s educational, social and emotional needs. Our board has worked diligently with our business official to identify budget efficiencies that have allowed the district to hold the budget increase under the 2 percent allowed increase and that carries a tax levy that is once again within our allowable cap."

In the race for Board of Education, incumbents Patricia Arslanian and Lorraine Warren are facing off against Suzanne Martinez; the person with the third highest votes will get a one-year term after the resignation of board member Jeffrey Connolly.

Polls will be open Polls will be open for voters in the high school gym from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m

Shelter Island

The district's proposed $13.57 million budget represents a 2.07 percent increase; the proposed 6.78 percent tax levy increase exceeds the district’s 2.20 percent tax-cap limit, requiring a 60 percent vote to pass.

In the BOE race incumbents Dawn Hedberg and Anthony Rando are running unopposed; Laurene Silvani is running unopposed for the seat of board member Tracy McCarthy, who resigned.

Voting takes place from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Shelter Island School.