District Officials Keep Eye on Redevelopment Projects
Huntington School District officials are keeping a close eye on the Town of Huntington’s redevelopment initiative in Huntington Station as well as various projects in and around Huntington village that have sought property tax abatements through the Suffolk Industrial Development Agency.
District officials have been attending Huntington Town Board and Suffolk IDA meetings as well as community gatherings organized by Renaissance Downtowns, which the town selected as the “master developer” for the redevelopment of downtown Huntington Station. Officials have also attended meetings sponsored by local groups interested in the redevelopment process.
Huntington School Board members and district executives have repeatedly expressed concern about any development that adds students to the district without the accompanying tax revenue to fund their education, thus placing an increased burden on existing resident taxpayers and businesses.
Unlike many Long Island districts and school systems across the state, the Huntington School District has not experienced an enrollment decline. Instead, enrollment has actually been inching upward. While many districts have already closed or are considering closing schools, Huntington opened the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School two years ago.
District officials have opposed requests submitted to the Suffolk IDA to grant tax abatements, some of which run for as long as 15 years. The abatements effectively prevent the district from collecting taxes consistent with a property’s actual assessment and contribute to a lack of growth in the tax base.
Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky has addressed the director of the Suffolk IDA on numerous occasions during its public meetings. He has also addressed the Huntington Town Board as has Huntington School Board President Emily Rogan about redevelopment efforts and the potential such initiatives will lead to additional students without accompanying additional revenues.
“It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to meet the educational needs of all district students,” Mr. Polansky said. “When town development occurs without any associated financial benefit to the large majority of district taxpayers, it clearly leaves the onus on the school district to address the matter. This has been more the norm than the exception in the Huntington School District. In light of the current taxpayer burden, residents of most districts are generally unwilling to accept tax increases that exceed the state-imposed cap, particularly when it would preclude receipt of a significant tax rebate.”
The Huntington School Board has discussed Huntington Station redevelopment and Suffolk IDA-tax abatement issues during many public meetings over the past several years. Officials have pledged to continue fighting on behalf of students and residents as various projects move forward.