School districts face difficult decisions as state budget reveals aid payments

Some Long Island school districts are facing harsh realities as they grapple to fill multimillion-dollar budget gaps.

Costs are going up and enrollment is going down. Some districts are receiving less state aid money than anticipated.

The West Babylon Union Free School District proposed a budget that pierces the tax cap by 4.99%.

The Amityville Union Free School District has already made dozens of staff cuts.

The Sachem Central School District presented three options to balance the budget.

The first option includes staff and program cuts.

The second option pierces the tax cap at 3.49% and spends $3.6 million from the reserve fund.

The third option has a 4.87% tax hike, but spends no additional reserve funds.

The Sachem school district is already eliminating 61 positions next year. Many of those positions are retirees who are not being replaced.

The Sachem School Board will adopt a budget Tuesday.

Piercing the tax cap requires approval from 60% of voters.