April 15, 2026 · Updated April 17, 2026
The Port Washington Board of Education unanimously adopted a $205.8M budget for 2026–27 on April 15 — and now voters have 34 days to decide. Parents raised concerns about AI and student assessment technology at the public hearing. Here's everything you need to know before May 19.
The Port Washington Board of Education unanimously adopted a $205,824,844 budget for the 2026–27 school year on Tuesday, April 15. The spending plan now heads to voters on May 19, 2026. Enrollment has dropped to 5,077 students — down from 5,273 just one year ago — and parents used the public hearing to push back on AI-driven student assessment tools being used in district schools.
At roughly $40,500 per student, this is not a lean budget. The spending plan covers teacher salaries and benefits, special education services, facilities maintenance across the district's five school buildings, and technology infrastructure. The board voted unanimously to adopt it.
Port Washington lost 196 students over the past year, a drop of about 3.7%. The causes are familiar: Long Island's housing costs keep young families out, some residents are relocating, and private school enrollment has been ticking up. Fewer kids doesn't automatically mean a cheaper budget, though — fixed costs don't scale down with enrollment the same way variable costs do.
Parents raised concerns about artificial intelligence and student assessment technology being used in district schools — specifically around how student data is collected, stored, and analyzed by third-party AI-powered tools. Across Long Island and the country, parents have been pushing districts to be more transparent about which edtech platforms their kids use.
A yes vote approves the $205,824,844 budget for 2026–27. Port Washington is not among the at least four Long Island districts seeking a tax cap override this cycle — meaning this budget is designed to stay within the state's 2% property tax cap.
School budget votes happen on the third Tuesday in May across New York State. For Port Washington residents, that's Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Polls are typically open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Check the Port Washington School District's official website for your specific polling location.
