Montauk School District officials maintain that many facilities are in need of repair or replacement

Hanging in the balance as the federal government shutdown enters its ninth day today are health insurance plans for nearly 100,000 Long Islanders, some of whom could face thousands of dollars in premium increases if government subsidies aren’t extended on Jan. 1. David Olson reports in NEWSDAY that one of the key sticking points in the shutdown is a Democratic demand that enhanced federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — that were first enacted in 2021 be extended past their expiration date and made permanent. Democrats also are asking for the reversal of Medicaid changes that would, according to independent analyses, lead to cuts of hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid spending.

On Long Island, the average increase for about 28,000 people with subsidized ACA plans would be 32%, according to data from the NYS Department of Health. Another 70,000 who now pay no premiums will have to pay something no matter what — but more without a subsidy extension. "Millions of low and middle income Americans are facing a looming health care affordability crisis," U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in a virtual news conference yesterday. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, said discussions about extending the subsidies shouldn't be tied to the shutdown, and some support proposals to temporarily extend the aid.

Senator Gillibrand said there’s little time left to reach an agreement, because ACA open enrollment begins Nov. 1.

Congressman Nick LaLota…the Republican from Amityville who represents eastern Suffolk in the U.S. House…said in a statement he supports a bill sponsored by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) to extend the subsidies for a year.

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Failure to pass a pair of referendums in May didn’t change the minds of Montauk School District officials: They maintain that many of the school’s facilities are dated and in need of renovation or replacement. For instance, with no cafeteria, students at Montauk School currently eat in their classrooms. A set of portable classrooms dating back to the 1970s remain, despite being around 30 years past the end of their expected lifetime. The gymnasium, lacking air conditioning, can get up to 90 degrees. But when two proposals — one for $38 million, the other for $2.9 million — hit ballots earlier this year, voters elected to sink the former in a vote of 361-318, and the latter in a vote of 342-334. Jack Motz reports on 27east.com that after those failures, the district regrouped, and this week officials announced a revised proposal for a $34.8 million bond that dials back certain measures in an effort to make it more palatable to voters. The $2.9 million proposal, which would utilize savings and does not require a bond, will stay the same. The referendum for the new $34.8 million bond is tentatively scheduled for December 9, and the district plans to post the details on its website later this week, with fliers to follow. Bond length is yet to be determined. If it lasts for 20 years, which officials said the district has looked at, Montauk taxpayers would see an average tax hike of about $30 per month. The revised plan will still include a new gym, which, if approved, would be built in the back of the building. The current gym would be converted into an arts space.

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The 32nd annual Stroll to the Sea Dog Walk will take place this coming Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at Mulford Farm in East Hampton and ending at Main Beach. Every year, hundreds of ARF supporters gather at Mulford Farm in East Hampton for a festive 2-mile walk to the ocean and back. This Saturday morning will begin with prewalk festivities and an awards presentation led by designer and entertainer Isaac Mizrahi at Mulford Farm, followed by the two-mile stroll to Main Beach. Kim Nichols, executive director of ARF said, “This event has always been about community, joy and compassion, and now, with our new...