The Jericho Board of Education met on Thursday, March 12, for its last budget workshop ahead of the 2026-2027 budget adoption later this month. The board addressed the tax levy increase, budget expenditures and revenue, and scheduled maintenance projects. Representatives from Aramark Student Nutrition also made a presentation on the school meals program.
For the budget segment, the board showed that from 2012 to 2027 the district averaged a 1.2% annual increase in the tax levy, which was consistently below the tax cap, which ranged from 2%-4% for many years.
While the tax levy for the 2025-2026 school year was $118,000, the proposed tax levy for 2026-2027 is $121,000. Hence, a tax levy increase to roughly 1.8% is likely coming.
The district’s budget for 2025-2026 was $143,900,000, and the board will give its full budget proposal for 2026-2027 later this spring, anticipating a budget increase of approximately 2.8%, the board said.
The board outlined budget expenditures that go largely toward salaries (57%), employee benefits (25%), and supplies (10%). The primary sources of budget revenue come from the tax levy (82%) and state aid (8%).
The state-required budget component distribution for the district breaks down with approximately $118 million (80%) going to programs and salaries, $15 million (10%) to ‘capital’ (buildings, grounds, maintenance), and $14 million (10%) to administrative (supplies and equipment).
Using prior funding, approved maintenance projects for summer 2026 and into the 2026-2027 school year include ceiling upgrades at the high school’s Little Theater, districtwide masonry and bathroom renovations, window replacements at Cantiague Elementary School and the middle and high schools, gym floor replacement at Cantiague, and elevator maintenance at the high school.
The total cost for the renovations is approximately $5,996,000. The projects will be funded by a $4,700,000 proposition from Capital Reserve V, and $1, 275,000 budget transfer, the board said.
The board will adopt the budget for the 2026-2027 school year on March 26.
Earlier in the meeting, representatives from Aramark Student Nutrition, which began working with the district in 2022, presented a report on their commitment to “providing Jericho school district engaging meals that meet nutritional standards and reflect the unique needs of the school community.”
The presentation showed how Aramark plans three separate menus based on size portions for grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 that meet limits on salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Aramark’s meals are reviewed by dieticians and nutritionists to help meet these limits.
Culinary innovation is always on the menu, as Aramark aims to help students form positive lifelong habits with well-balanced meals, the presenters said.
