At a workshop on Tuesday, the Montauk School Board discussed the district’s tax levy for the 2026-27 school year. “We’re planning on proposing a $25,674,383 budget for next year,” said Josh Odom, the superintendent. “Budget to budget it’s a $1,110,269 increase. All of those increases are contractual — health insurance, teacher pay. When it comes to programs, we have a really healthy fund balance now. We’re in good shape. For us, it’s pretty straightforward and I’m happy about that.”
The district is looking at an actual tax levy increase of just under $600,000, or 2.81 percent, comfortably below this year’s tax cap of 5.12 percent. Mr. Odom says the budget allows Montauk School to maintain all of its student programs, while staying mindful of the cap — especially after taxpayers approved a 20-year, $34.8 million bond that will pay for extensive school renovations.
“We’re very cognizant of the fact that we just passed a bond and everything the community fought for there and we’re very thankful for that,” Mr. Odom said.
Plans for the capital project, meanwhile, are on schedule. At next Tuesday’s meeting, the board will review floor plans, which incorporate teacher feedback. “Our teachers have been incredibly helpful in figuring out instructional spaces and we’ve really leaned on that,” Mr. Odom said. Jake Lorefice and Shawn Ward, Montauk’s music teachers, have helped determine how best to transform the current gym into a space for the performing arts — making classrooms more intimate and dampening sound. Rachel Kleinberg, the librarian, has contributed to the conversation about whether to divide the library into separate areas or maintain one large open space.
At next week’s board meeting, Mr. Odom also plans to introduce a resolution to establish a repair reserve fund, similar to ones that neighboring districts have. “It allows us to set aside money for the future without having additional taxpayer impact,” he said. “Even if we don’t have a proposition to fund it this year, we want to establish it so we have a rainy-day fund. We’re trying to be future-focused. We don’t want to get back to a position where we’re playing catch-up.”
Next Tuesday’s meeting will be at 4 p.m. in the school library.