District overview
Sachem Central School District
How Sachem is funded, governed and what is underway
Where does Sachem's money come from?
Sachem is an ordinary formula-funded New York district. About 57 cents of each budget dollar comes from property taxes and about 37 cents from state aid. Almost all of that is set by state formulas: the tax levy is limited by the state tax cap (the lesser of 2% or inflation, with adjustments), and aid follows the Foundation Aid formula. The board votes on the budget each spring, and residents of the district approve it at the ballot on the third Tuesday of May.
Tax levy about $221 million
The 2026-27 levy of $221,054,109 is up 2.0973% from $216.5 million and within the tax cap.
State aid about $143 million
Foundation Aid is $101.7 million of that, up 3.3%. The state budget was late again, so the district used estimates.
Savings used: $13.5 million
The district planned to use $13.46 million of fund balance and reserves; total reserves and fund balance are about $57.5 million.
Property-tax breaks shift the bill
Each new exemption (seniors, veterans, firefighters) or moved power-plant parcel leaves fewer properties to share the levy, so tax rates can rise even if the levy does not.
None of this means the budget is out of balance: the 2025-26 audit was clean with no internal-control deficiencies. The large reserves and a $829 million retiree health liability (a future-cost estimate that the district cannot pre-fund) are separate issues.
Where the district stands
Up 1.83% ($6.99 million) from $380,985,606. Adopted by the board Apr 21, 2026; the board later thanked the community for passing it.
Up 2.0973%, within the tax cap. Oct 2026 note: a court-ordered change for LIPA parcels will cut the levy increase to about 0.56% but raise tax rates.
Up 2.26%. Foundation Aid $101,678,989.
Salaries $183.7 million; employee benefits another 26.09%.
Down from 12,257 in 2019-20. Projected 10,938 in 2029-30. Total with pre-K and other programs: 11,748.
Context, calculated: $387,971,218 divided by 11,748 total students. Includes transportation, benefits, debt and facilities.
Per federal NCES data (context). The district lists 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and its high schools.
Context from the district website: nine unpaid members elected by district residents to overlapping three-year terms, voting the same day as the budget. Three seats (Baumann, Scavo, Sapienza) were re-filled in May 2026 and sworn in July 1, 2026. The board meets roughly every two weeks on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Major projects
Sachem North pool rebuild
Cost estimated; no vote or funding decision yetPressure tests found the pool's underground cast-iron piping failed. A rebuild to current code is estimated near $4 million and 8 to 9 months of work, and needs voter approval. The pool was still having contractor-related problems in September 2026.
- Facilities manager reports failed pressure tests and a rough $4 million estimate
- Board members discuss a possible bond versus waiting
- Board hears a short explainer on how school bonds work
- Student reports the pool still broken and swim team practicing at another school
Funding
Not decided. Would need voter approval; options discussed include a bond or the annual capital transfer.
2026-27 capital projects
Funded in the adopted budgetA $9 million transfer to capital pays for boiler replacements ($3.0 million), roof replacements ($3.0 million), career-and-technical room renovations ($0.8 million), IT upgrades ($1.0 million) and Samoset restroom renovations ($1.2 million). Funds can move between projects after bids.
- Capital list presented to the board
- Included in adopted budget
- Summer 2026 projects reported finished on time and on budget
Funding
Annual transfer to capital within the tax levy
Local property tax exemptions
Some adopted, more under considerationThe board adopted a 10% volunteer firefighter exemption (Dec 2025) and raised senior and disabled income limits (Jan 2026). In Sept 2026 it began reviewing exemptions for 100% disabled veterans, seniors (up to 65%), and widows and widowers of police officers killed on duty.
- Volunteer firefighter exemption adopted (per later recording)
- Public hearing on higher senior and disabled income limits
- Presentation on the new exemptions
Funding
Cost shifts to other taxpayers; no district spending
LIPA parcels moved to PILOT payments
Tax levy vote waiting on state equalization ratesBrookhaven and Smithtown removed LIPA parcels from tax rolls; Islip has not yet. The district receives the same money as payments in lieu of taxes but tax rates are expected to rise more than 3%.
- First board discussion
- Levy resolution pulled until equalization rates are final
Funding
About $3.3 million moves from levy to PILOT revenue
Recent news
Built from the district's own website documents (budget presentations, demographer reports, audits) and auto-generated captions of 25 board meeting recordings from Oct 2025 to Oct 2026. Figures marked verified come directly from a collected document.
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