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VOL. 74 NO. 21
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SCHOOL BUDGET RESULTS
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By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com
Brian Kacharaba/Herald
The strike by Long Island Rail Road workers entered its third, and what turned out to be its final, day on Monday, leaving Wantagh and Seaford commuters, and scores of thousands of daily riders across the region, facing a weekday shutdown of service.
LIRR strike ends after disrupting the commutes of Wantagh, Seaford riders By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com
The three-day Long Island Rail Road strike ended late Monday after five unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a tentative agreement following several days of negotiations, officials announced at an evening news conference. Union and MTA representatives announced the deal after negotiations resumed in the afternoon and continued into the night, ending the work stoppage that had halted service and caused widespread travel disruptions across Long Island and in New York City, including for commuters in Wantagh and Seaford who rely heavily on the Babylon Branch.
“We have good news tonight,” Kevin Sexton, vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the spokesman for the Long Island Railroad Bargaining Coalition, said. “We’re pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement.” Sexton said that details of the agreement would not be released immediately, citing the need for member review ahead of ratification votes. However, public radio station WYNC reported that the four-year deal includes retroactive pay, and expires in July 2027. “Due to the nature of the negotiations, we cannot discuss the specifics,” he said. “What I can say is we are looking forward to our members getting back to work and doing what they CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Wantagh and Levittown residents approved their school districts’ budgets and elected Board of Education candidates on May 19. In Wantagh, voters approved the district’s $98.38 million spending plan for the 2026-27 school year by a vote of 1,586 to 682. The budget is 3.87 percent larger than the current spending plan, and includes a 3.48 percent tax levy increase, which is below the district’s tax-cap limit. District officials said the budget maintains existing programs and class sizes while funding expanded academic offerings, special education programming and capital improvements throughout the district. Voters also approved Proposition 2, authorizing capital reserve expenditures, by a vote of 1,619 to 644. Proposition 3, authorizing the sale of districtowned property at 1865 Beech St., passed narrowly, 1,157 to 1,109.
In the Board of Education race, incumbent Trustee Tara Cassidy and challenger Joseph Dunn were elected to the board. Dunn received 1,592 votes, while Cassidy earned 1,460. In Levittown, residents approved the district’s $284.42 million budget by a vote of 1,156 to 610. The spending plan is 3.76 percent larger than the current budget, and includes a 1.98 percent tax levy increase, which is below the district’s tax-cap limit. According to district officials, the spending proposal maintains staffing and programs while funding instructional upgrades and new course offerings. Voters also approved a capital reserve expenditure referendum by a vote of 1,231 to 453. Incumbent Trustees Jennifer Messina and Phyllis Dalton were re-elected to the Board of Election alongside newcomer Daniel Larkin. Messina received 1,137 votes, Dalton earned 1,087 and Larkin received 1,070. Challenger Anne Marie Guerra received 639 votes.