ourschoolboard.org

New York funding & finance — school board news

Saturday, October 24, 2026

We bring transparency to school decisions nationwide by tracking school board meetings, district documents, and public data. We use AI tools, rigorously evaluated for accuracy, to search for risks.

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The policy desk

What’s moving in phones

The debate over phones, screens and the school day.

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The policy desk

What’s moving in AI

How artificial intelligence is changing classrooms and school rules.

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The policy desk

What’s moving in student voice

Students speaking up, organizing and helping shape their schools.

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The news desk

Latest New York stories

South Huntington Union Free School District

Tax bills may rise about twice as much as planned

On Sept. 30, the business office said the Walt Whitman Mall won a large cut in its assessed value (about $1.1 million) and four properties moved to payments in lieu of taxes. Total taxable value fell to about $40.2 million from $42.1 million. The board took up a lower school tax levy of about $131.3 million, $1.25 million less than planned in April. The estimated tax-rate increase is now about 6.4%, up from about 3% shown when the budget was adopted.

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Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District

School tax rate set 4.60% higher after LIPA tax settlement

On September 30, 2026 the board set the 2026-27 school tax levy at $136,848,822 and the tax rate at $323.5034 per $100 of assessed value, a 4.60% rate increase. In May voters were told to expect 3.29% to 4.34%. The district said a settlement between LIPA and the Town of Brookhaven moved LIPA's property off the tax roll, which raises the rate for other taxpayers.

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Closer to home

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