District overview
How Middle Country is funded, who decides, and what is underway.
Middle Country is a state-aid-dependent district on Long Island. For 2026-27 the voter-approved budget is $315.4 million. About 53% comes from property taxes and about 41% from state aid. Because state aid follows student counts, falling enrollment affects the budget directly. The tax levy may rise only by a state-set cap, which was 2.33% this year.
$167.4 million in the May-approved plan, up 2.33% from $163.6 million. In September 2026 the district said it revised the levy to $164.2 million after LIPA's taxes moved to a fixed payment (PILOT).
$128.6 million planned for 2026-27, about 40.5% of the budget. Foundation Aid is the largest piece at $97.6 million (governor's proposal).
Special education (up 8.4% in 2026-27), health insurance (up 50% in five years), and a new school bus contract (up 12.3%).
Reserves were $26.97 million at June 30, 2025, down 46% from $50.3 million in 2018, after the district used them to protect programs.
State monitoring gave the district no fiscal stress designation for 2024-25 (score 15.0 of 100, where 25 or more is stress). Falling enrollment and an unsettled teachers' contract are open questions.
Up 3.52% from $304,667,738. Voters approved it May 19, 2026.
Up 2.33%. Revised to $164,219,014 in September 2026 (see feed).
1,783 yes to 693 no.
3,754 in K-5 plus 4,892 in grades 6-12; the district says about 9,500 including pre-K and others.
Up from 1,525 in 2023-24.
Compared in the district's slide with $28,875 for Suffolk County and $26,857 for New York State (NYSED, 22-23).
No designation; ranked #15 of 122 Long Island districts (more points mean more concern).
The budget transfers $4.0 million (up from $3.5 million) to capital projects, including a Hawkins Path roof, a New Lane back-up boiler, Jericho air handlers and districtwide bathrooms, with no bond vote.
Operating budget transfer to capital ($4.0 million in 2026-27)
The board and the teachers' union disagree mainly about retiree family health care costs. Impasse was declared in early 2026 and a mediator is assisting.
Operating budget (salaries and benefits)
LIPA's property taxes move to a PILOT payment. The district lowered its 2026-27 levy to $164.2 million (+0.39%) and says residents will absorb about $1.5 million once covered by Suffolk County.
Property tax levy
Middle Country CSD
Three seats expected on the ballot at the annual vote. New York holds the annual budget vote and school board election on the third Tuesday in May; the district has not yet posted 2027 details.
Official source · verified Oct 20, 2026
Middle Country CSD
The annual budget vote is expected on the third Tuesday in May. The district has not yet posted the 2027-28 budget.
Official source · verified Oct 20, 2026
Middle Country CSD · $315,378,259
Voters approved the budget, which raises the tax levy 2.33% to $167.4 million.
Official source · verified Oct 20, 2026
Middle Country CSD
Joseph Sitler, Nicole Peterson and Gina Cutillo-Siegelbaum won three-year terms starting July 1, 2026.
Official source · verified Oct 20, 2026
Built from the district's board special-presentation slides (Oct. 2025 to Sept. 2026), its 2025-26 and 2026-27 budget books and mailers, official election results, the board roster page and the board's posted replies to public speakers.
We read every agenda, packet, recording, and set of minutes, and write up the decisions that affect families — each one linked to the document it came from.
View alerts for this district