South Country Schools to see small drop in state aid

The New York State Department of Education recently announced its projections for aid to school districts as Gov. Kathy Hochul lays out her 2026-2026 budget plan.

Most districts across Long Island will see an increase in state funding, mostly drawn from foundation aid.

The South Country School District is projected to see a 1.5 percent decrease in state aid, totaling a fall of $891,462, or $56.9 million, as opposed to this year’s $57.8 million.

“At a time when school districts, especially here in South Country, are facing a range of financial challenges, including rising costs in critical areas such as transportation, health care, and mandated per pupil expenditures, any proposed reduction in state aid is difficult to absorb,” said Antonio Santana, Superintendent of Schools, South Country. “This is particularly concerning as federal funding is also being reduced, further limiting the resources available to support students. While we continue to experience declining enrollment, many of our costs do not decrease proportionally and, in some cases, continue to rise. As such, these proposed cuts present real challenges for districts like ours as we work to balance fiscal responsibility with our ongoing commitment to providing students with a high-quality educational experience.”

Patchogue-Medford School District will see a .039 percent increase for a total positive of $396,494 and the William Floyd School District will gain a total of 3.27 precent increase for a total positive of $7.8 million.

Bayport-Blue Point School District is projected to receive increases in state aid. Bayport-Blue Point is projected to receive a 4.02 percent, or $740,000 increase in state aid for the 2026-2027 school year compared to the current school year.

Across the state, foundation aid is expected to increase by around 3 percent.

Gov. Hochul lauded the increase in school aid across the state in her 2026 State of the State Address Book, where she also outlined her plan for “achieving truly universal pre-k” across the state, which was listed among the governor’s top priorities this year.

“There’s one thing that every family in New York can agree on: the cost of childcare is simply too high,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement.

The governor said the state plans to fund additional seats in school districts without universal pre-k programs, and will also increase funding for students already enrolled.

“The proposal’s investments in early childhood education are an important step forward,” the New York State United Teachers union said in a statement. “By supporting truly universal pre-K, the state is giving districts resources to expand and to bring these programs into public schools and ensure they are delivered by certified teachers.”

School districts will begin budgeting discussions in the coming weeks, with proposals presented to residents throughout March and April before the annual budget vote in May, alongside school board elections.

Nicole Fuentes contributed to this story.