Proposition granting Northport Historical Society annual funds passes by 389 votes
A new tax bill line, approved at yesterday’s May 20 school district budget vote, will be assessed to all landowners in Northport and East Northport, garnering the Northport Historical Society and Museum approximately $60,000 a year.
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A proposition permitting the Town of Huntington to impose an annual tax of between $3.10 and $3.74 per household to help support the Northport Historical Society and Museum has passed 1,799 to 1,410.
The new tax bill line will be assessed to all landowners in Northport and East Northport; the funds – approximately $60,000 a year – will help the society and museum maintain its original Carnegie Library, a collection of over 12,000 documents and artifacts, and adult and child educational programs, the society said.
The Northport Historical Society initiated this past winter a petition drive to place the proposition on the May 20, 2025 school district budget vote ballot, after gaining official classification as a museum on October 8, 2024. Prior to amending its charter, the nonprofit was classified as a historical society, a title granted in 1973.
The request for the annual tax was listed as Proposition #4 on yesterday’s budget vote ballot.
According to New York State Education Law §259.1, public libraries are permitted to submit propositions to school districts for the levy of taxes in support of the library. Education Law §253 specifies that these rights apply equally to “libraries and museums and to combined libraries and museums.”
Similar initiatives have been passed in towns including Rocky Point, Westhampton Beach, and Sag Harbor; the allocation will occur annually but will not increase unless another vote is held.
“On behalf of the Northport Historical Society and Museum, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community for your support in voting Yes on Proposition #4,” said Terry Reid, executive director of the Northport Historical Society and Museum. “Your vote is more than just a ballot choice; it is a powerful statement of your belief in the importance of preserving our shared history. With your continued partnership, we are able to sustain our community’s rich heritage, create meaningful and educational programs and exhibits, and connect our past, present, and future in ways that inspire future generations.”
