District overview
Port Washington Union Free School District
How Port Washington's public schools are funded, governed and what is underway
How is this district paid for?
Port Washington is an independent school district on Long Island. Its 2026-27 budget is $205.8 million. About 84% ($172.4 million) comes from local property taxes and about 10% ($20.7 million) from state aid. Each May, voters approve the budget and elect board members. New York's tax levy cap limits how fast the levy can grow; the district says its 3.25% increase is under that limit. If voters reject a budget twice, the Board must adopt a contingent budget with no increase in the tax levy.
Property taxes are the main source
2026-27 revenue: property tax $172.4M, state aid $20.7M, payments in lieu of taxes $6.4M, and about $5.2M from reserves, fund balance, facility use and fees (rounded, in the district's newsletter).
Salaries and benefits are most of the spending
Salaries are $96.6M and employee benefits $53.9M, together about 73% of the $205.8M budget. Debt payments are $9.8M and transportation is $11.6M.
Voters decide the budget and the Board
The 2026-27 budget passed 1,541 to 369 on May 19, 2026. Two Board seats were also filled that day. The next vote is Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
Savings accounts for building work
Voters created a capital reserve in 2022 for HVAC and electrical work, and in May 2026 approved a new repair reserve for large one-time repairs. Neither changes the 2026-27 tax levy.
A budget under the tax levy cap does not mean costs are falling: the district reports rising health insurance and pension costs. These documents do not show what a typical household pays in school tax.
Where the district stands
Up 3.43% from $199,007,128 in 2025-26.
Up 3.25% from $167,017,404; the district says this is under the state levy limit.
Up from $19,226,744.
Down from 5,454 in 2016-17, a 6.7% drop over eleven years.
Context: $205,824,844 divided by 5,118 students. It includes benefits, debt, transportation and capital transfers, so it is not a classroom-only figure.
About $146 million across three priority levels; not a funded plan.
Within the 4% legal limit; auditors gave unmodified (clean) opinions.
411 of 5,086 students; 884 total violations.
329 enrolled against 368 projected.
Major projects
Long-range plan for aging school buildings
Planning; no bond proposedA building survey lists about $146M of possible work: $36M safety and compliance, $45M essential replacements, $65M modernization. For 2026-27 the district budgets $4.4M for capital transfers (Daly roof and masonry $1.7M, Manorhaven retaining wall $2.5M, Guggenheim flooring $0.2M). Voters approved a repair reserve and up to $3.5M in HVAC and electrical spending in May 2026. The summer 2026 plan lists 140+ items, including 30 classroom air conditioners.
- Voters create the Facilities Improvement Program 1 capital reserve
- Architect updates survey costs at Budget & Facilities Committee
- Board sees long-term facilities planning options (reserves, budget, borrowing)
- Voters approve repair reserve and HVAC/electrical spending
- District Priorities names future-ready facilities as a priority
Funding
Annual budget transfers to capital, capital reserve, new repair reserve; borrowing is one option discussed
No bond amount or vote has been proposed in these documents.
Math and literacy changes for 2026-27
Funded in the 2026-27 budgetThe budget adds 5.6 positions for instructional coaching, new courses and student support, plus a PreK-12 Director for Math, Business and Computer Science. The district is redesigning middle-school math paths, ending the Math 7 acceleration placement exam, and adding courses such as AP Seminar at Schreiber. Latin is ending for new Weber students.
- Board sees 2026-27 program enhancements
- Board adopts budget with the added positions
- District Priorities presentation reports early results
Funding
2026-27 general fund budget
Part of the $205.8M budget.
Student devices and phone rules
Phone policy in force; device refresh plannedPolicy 5695 bans personal phones and other internet devices all school day. Regulations were adopted October 1, 2026. A net $3.7M refresh of Chromebooks (grades 2-12), teacher devices and printers is planned for the 2026-27 budget cycle, for September 2027.
- Board adopts original phone policy
- Board reviews school-issued devices and AI access
- Board revises Policy 5695
- Board adopts regulations 5695-R
Funding
2026-27 general fund budget (device refresh)
About $3.7 million net, per the June 2026 presentation.
Recent news
Figures marked verified come from official documents the district posted (budget newsletter, Board slides, policy text, audit slides). Calculations such as per-student spending are marked context. Covers about October 2025 to October 2026.
Get alerts for Port Washington Union Free School District
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