All five candidates running for South Country Board of Education said Monday they support the district’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, which raises taxes by 3.48 percent and eliminates 51 positions, to close a $3.2 million budget gap.

The district is also facing a decrease of more than $613,000 in state aid for 2025-2026. The district will receive $57,479,121 in state aid, according to a Newsday analysis.

The candidates’ comments came as they fielded questions from the public at a forum organized by the South Country Parent Teacher Association and moderated by the Suffolk Region PTA.

While all said they support the budget, the candidates, who are running for three seats on the board, offered different perspectives on the spending plan, which will go into effect on July 1, if voters approve it on May 20.

Most said they reluctantly support the budget because voting it down would mean an austerity budget that would be worse for students.

Daniel Fitzgerald said he didn’t see any option other than voting for the budget.

“I just want to make sure the money is being spent as wisely as possible,” said Fitzgerald, an employee with GM Pools and Spas.

Erika M. Calderone called the budget cuts, which include eliminating teacher positions, “heartbreaking to teachers, students and staff.”

Calderone said she wants to see more transparency when it comes to budgetary matters.

Calderone, an attorney with Drohan Lee LLP and former fifth-grade teacher and history department chair, is one of three candidates endorsed by the Bellport Teachers Association. The others are Robert Felicetta, an assistant principal at William Floyd High School; and Christopher Ross, an attorney and partner with the firm of Keegan & Keegan, Ross & Rossner in Patchogue.

Joseph L. Barry, director of development at the De La Sal School, is the board’s current vice president and the only incumbent among the five candidates.

Barry, who is seeking his second term, voted to approve the budget last month. He said while “it’s not easy to let teachers go,” the district doesn’t need as many teachers because enrollment has fallen by almost 400 students in the past 10 years.

He said the budget cuts will result in experienced teachers, who now perform administrative roles, going back into the classroom.

“We will be stronger going forward,” he said.

His fellow panelists didn’t seem to agree with that assessment.

Felicetta, for example, said that rather than eliminating teachers, maybe the district doesn’t need as many administrators.

The candidates also fielded questions about student safety, discipline, standardized testing and the full-day student cellphone ban Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers agreed to as part of negotiations over the 2025-2026 budget.

Ross said the ban needs to be enforced consistently.

Calderone said she favors the ban because “students are supposed to be present. They’re supposed to be engaged. They’re supposed to be learning.”

“I’d like to convince our students to put down their phones,” so they interact more with their teachers and fellow students, Fitzgerald said.