Herricks School Board Trustee to Retire After 9 Years

District presents $149M budget proposal with 2.12% tax levy increase

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Herricks School Board Trustee Henry Zanetti announced he will not seek reelection after serving for 9 years, as the district administration presented a projected $149.3 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year with a 2.12% tax levy increase. The budget includes increased costs for salaries, benefits, transportation, and special education.

Why it matters

Zanetti's retirement marks the end of an era on the Herricks school board, as the district faces rising costs and must seek voter approval for capital projects and a new capital reserve fund. The budget and board election will be important decisions for the community.

The details

Zanetti cited his wife's retirement as the reason for his decision to step down from the board. The proposed $149.3 million budget represents a $4.8 million (3.3%) increase over the previous year, driven by higher salaries, insurance premiums, transportation costs, and special education expenses. The district will also need voter approval for three capital projects and a new $9 million capital reserve fund.

  • Zanetti announced his retirement at the March 5 Board of Education meeting.
  • The district's 2026-2027 budget and board election will be determined on May 19.

The players

Henry Zanetti

A 9-year veteran of the Herricks School Board who announced he will not seek reelection.

Tony Sinanis

The Superintendent of Herricks School District.

Lisa Rutkoske

The Assistant Superintendent for Business at Herricks School District.

Jim Gounaris

A Herricks School Board Trustee who will be seeking reelection.

Elizabeth Napolitano

The District Clerk for Herricks School District.

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What they’re saying

“Now that my wife will be around, I'll need some more time to do things with her. Thank you to all who have come to the meetings over the years, and I thank everybody who trusted me to be in this position.”

— Henry Zanetti, Herricks School Board Trustee (longislandpress.com)

“We are seeing an increase in our special education population. That is for next year, roughly a $1.2 million increase.”

— Lisa Rutkoske, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Herricks School District (longislandpress.com)

What’s next

The district's 2026-2027 budget and two open school board seats will be determined by voters in the May 19 district election.

The takeaway

Herricks School District faces rising costs in its upcoming budget, driven by increases in salaries, benefits, transportation, and special education. Voters will play a key role in approving the budget and electing new school board members to help guide the district through these financial challenges.