District overview
Three Village Central School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
Who pays for the schools, and who decides?
Three Village's 2026-27 budget is $243.4 million. About three of every four dollars come from the local school tax levy ($185.2 million). State aid is about 18% ($43.8 million). New York limits how much a district can raise its levy each year (the tax cap, 4.26% this year for Three Village). A budget over the cap needs 60% of voters. Voters also pass the budget every May: a no vote leads to a revote or a contingency budget with no levy increase. A seven-member Board of Education, elected at large by district voters, adopts the budget and runs the schools.
Tax cap and the 60% rule
The cap grows 2% or inflation, whichever is less, plus new construction. For 2026-27 the revised budget's 3.49% levy increase was $1,379,813 under the cap, so a simple majority was enough.
State aid is a shrinking share
District slides say state aid (not counting building aid) was 19.59% of revenue in 2009-10 and 15.75% in 2025-26; the district says about $9.15 million more would come in at the old share.
Reserves are thinner than before
Fund balance was $24.9 million in June 2019 and $10.1 million in June 2025, according to a November 2025 budget slide.
Voters have said no twice recently
Both bond questions failed on January 20, 2026, and the first 2026-27 budget failed on May 19, 2026. A smaller revised budget passed on June 16, 2026 (per the district website).
None of this means the district is poorly run. The slides present rising health-insurance, pension and salary costs as the main drivers, and the district still offers 30 AP courses and 43 dual-enrollment courses. The documents do not show how Three Village's spending compares with neighbors.
Where the district stands
Down 94 from 5,492 in 2025; projected 5,161 by 2028-29.
Up 2.20% from $238,151,502 in 2025-26.
Up 3.49% from $178,973,738. In September 2026 the board lowered it about $3.1 million for a LIPA payment; the tax rate still rises.
Down 1.34% from $44,423,764.
Calculation: $243,390,092 divided by 5,356 students in the district's state filing. Includes transportation, benefits and debt, so it is not a classroom-only figure. Context, not a district-stated number.
Down from $24.9 million in June 2019.
8.6% in grades 1-8. State target is 5%.
Up from 270 the year before, in the first bell-to-bell year.
Major projects
Building repair and capital plan
Bond failed; smaller repairs funded in the budgetA $123 million plan covered roofs, security upgrades, athletic facilities, bathrooms, science rooms, air conditioning, the pool and more. Both bond questions failed in January 2026. The 2026-27 budget includes $2.5 million of capital work (roof cupolas at Setauket, Murphy and Minnesauke, Nassakeag gym floor, with 66% state building aid).
- Capital Improvement Plan presented: $123 million, with a $98 million option
- Board takes up resolution for two-proposition bond vote
- Voters reject Proposition 1 (992-1,379) and Proposition 2 (828-1,498)
- Board discusses larger yearly capital budget and pool concerns
- Revised budget with $2.5 million capital passes (per district website)
Funding
Annual operating budget (outside the tax cap) with 66% state building aid; bond failed
School closure and repurpose study
Committee reconvened; recommendations due December 2026With enrollment falling, a committee studied school closures. In March 2026 it advised that no elementary school close now, that after-school care portables move inside buildings, and that it meet yearly. The board is also seeking offers to sell the old Nichols Road administration building.
- Committee reports: no elementary school closure recommended now
- Board says committee will reconvene in September
- Enrollment presentation; Nichols Road property sale RFP planned
Funding
Possible one-time sale proceeds; savings not yet estimated
Later high school start time
Under study; not fundedThe high school day starts at 7:05 a.m. Board members want it later but it costs about $1 million a year in transportation. It was dropped from the 2026-27 budget. The board's goals call for a 2027-28 budget with two options so a start-time proposition could go on the ballot.
- Start time listed among major cost drivers (about $1 million)
- Board debates adding it to the budget re-vote
- Board discusses making it a ballot proposition
Funding
Not funded; about $1 million a year in added transportation
Armed school security decision
Under consideration; no vote yetThe board has studied arming trained security guards since 2025. The district says it is ready to start if approved. Parents have urged both yes and no. The 2026-27 goals call for finishing the study and voting.
- Board discusses armed guards; public comments for and against
- Update: Civil Service rule makes hiring guards harder
- Safety update: ready to implement if authorized
Funding
Cost not stated; staff said it would mean about nine added positions, one per building
Recent news
Built from the district's board presentations, 2026-27 budget documents, state filings and plans on threevillagecsd.org and from board-meeting recordings. Figures marked verified are stated in a collected district document; calculations and comparisons are context.
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