District overview
Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is the district paid for?
New York school districts raise most of their money from local property taxes, under a state cap that limits how fast the yearly tax levy can grow. Voters approve the budget each May. For 2026-27 the proposed budget was $205.8 million and the tax levy about $152.2 million, so taxes pay for roughly three of every four dollars.
A tax cap limits growth
The state sets a levy limit. The district said its 2026-27 limit allowed a 4.01% increase because of exclusions such as capital spending; the board recommended 3.45%.
State aid is a small share
Estimated Foundation Aid of $31.5 million is 15.3% of the revenue budget, up about $1.3 million from the year before.
Reserves help balance the budget
The plan used about $1.74 million of reserves, up from about $1.37 million, to hold the levy increase down.
Voters decide twice
Voters approve the budget (Proposition I) and separate items such as spending from the capital reserve (Proposition II). Both passed on May 19, 2026.
These figures are the proposed budget numbers from district documents. Final audited spending is not part of the collected record.
Where the district stands
Up 4.25% from $197,404,327. Voters approved it 1,619 to 602 on May 19, 2026 (district website).
Up 3.45% (about $5.08 million) from $147,171,558.
15.3% of the revenue budget.
From federal school data; not taken from a collected district document.
Calculation: $205,796,480 divided by about 5,245 students. The district budget also covers adult education, transportation, debt and benefits, so this is not classroom spending.
Officials said over 1,600 students are expected through the class of 2036 if nothing else changes.
Officials described about $62 million of work over seven years; the Feb. 9 budget deck said roughly $60 million.
Meetings from Oct. 27, 2025 to Oct. 19, 2026; 3 recordings had no captions.
Major projects
High school space expansion (possible bond)
Planning - no vote scheduledAfter voters rejected a $113.9 million bond in January 2025, a district facilities committee is shaping a smaller high school project: a larger cafeteria (now about 238 seats, aiming near 400), about 10 classrooms, band and orchestra rooms, and restrooms.
- Voters reject the two-part $113.9 million bond (per news reports)
- Board hears facilities and space needs assessment
- Board asks for project scope, plans and timeline
- Officials present draft scope; say earliest vote is the week of Feb. 8
Funding
Possible voter-approved bond; officials cited survey support for about $50 million or less
No price or vote date has been set.
Capital reserve and building upkeep
Funded by reserves and tax levyThe 2022 voters approved a capital reserve after a 2020 building survey found $32 million of projects. The 2026-27 plan recommended $6 million from it for elementary cafeteria serving lines, leaving about $9.5 million, plus a $2.5 million transfer to capital.
- Superintendent's proposed budget includes $2.5 million transfer to capital
- Board adopts budget with Proposition II
- Voters approve Proposition II 1,768 to 453
Funding
Capital reserve fund and transfer to capital
Recent news
Built from the district website, its 2026-27 budget documents, and auto-generated captions of Board of Education recordings (Oct. 2025 to Oct. 2026). Captions are not approved minutes. BoardDocs minutes and the policy manual were not collected.
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