Transportation facility revote to happen in May, alongside annual budget vote
A view of the East Northport bus yard currently being leased by the Northport-East Northport school district. A revote to purchase the property will take place in May 2027.
The Northport-East Northport board of education decided at its August 20 meeting to hold a revote in May 2027 that, if passed, would allow for the purchase of a 1.75 acre parcel of land for the parking and maintenance of the district’s buses. The property would also house the district’s transportation operations and offices.
The revote will be held on the same date as the annual school budget vote.
Originally listed on the May 2026 budget vote ballot, the proposition would have authorized the district to acquire the property, located at 24 Railroad Avenue in East Northport, for $3,950,000. That proposition failed by 304 votes.
The following month, the board of education voted unanimously to enter into a one-year agreement to lease the same Railroad Avenue property. An initial lease was signed, though a fully executed lease agreement with IJRH 24 Realty LLC has yet to be finalized, district officials told the Journal. District buses were moved onto the property in late June.
According to a statement made by Superintendent Dave Moyer at the August 20 meeting, the board approved a renewal of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, or PSA, for 24 Railroad Avenue; that agreement includes the principal terms of a one-year lease of the property.
“A separate, more detailed lease agreement remains under negotiation,” he said.
In public discussions, Assistant Superintendent of Business Bob Howard outlined the district’s rent payments for the property: $12,500 per month for partial use during July and August. Beginning in September, the district is scheduled to have full use of the property – including an on-site building – with rent increasing to $25,000 per month for the remainder of the fiscal year.
District officials noted, however, that no rent has been paid and none will be issued until a fully executed lease agreement is in place. Although not yet finalized, the proposed lease is structured as a triple-net agreement, requiring the district to cover property taxes and property insurance (as well as utilities) in addition to the base rent, the district told the Journal.
The district currently owns 24 buses (18 large buses and six vans), all of which will be parked at the East Northport bus yard. One of those buses, parked at Dickinson Avenue Elementary School, is awaiting a starter repair and will be moved in the near future, according to the district.
The non-district-owned vehicles at 24 Railroad Avenue, which include a handful of tour buses and other privately owned vehicles, belong to the current property owner and will be removed before August 31 at the owner’s cost, the district said.
Any rent paid prior to the closing will not be applied toward the purchase price of the facility, should voters approve the sale.
The annual budget vote with the anticipated transportation facility proposition is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
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