YOUR Museum Needs your Help!
​Vote "YES" To proposition 4 on May 2oth

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On Tuesday, May 20, Shelter Islanders will get the chance to vote on four propositions on the school ballot. Proposition 4 asks: “Shall the Board of Education of the Shelter Island Union Free School District, Suffolk County, New York, authorize an annual appropriation of $275,000 for operational and maintenance expenses of the Shelter Island History Museum for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and to levy the necessary tax, therefore?” We are asking you to vote YES on the proposition. 
 
There are many reasons why the SIHM is seeking taxpayer support. First, we cannot fulfill our mission – to “welcome and connect our community by exploring our shared history through exhibits, research, educational programs and performances” – without sustainable, reliable funding. Second, we are so grateful for the generosity of our friends and patrons, however the amounts raised through donations are unpredictable and often not enough to cover basic expenses for heat, electricity, insurance, staff, security and the like, which cost more than $36,000 a month. Third, we also receive grants, however, they are time-sensitive, never a guarantee and are targeted for specific donor-designated projects. Finally, without public funding, the Museum cannot enhance its community services by expanding free programs and exhibits year-round.  
 
The $275,000 requested is 63% of our annual operating budget of $434,000. The Museum tax rate would be $0.0433 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. If your property is assessed at $1,000,000, for example, the total increase on your 2025-26 tax bill would be $43.30. That’s $3.60 a month — about the price of a cup of coffee. Property assessed at $2,000,000 would see an increase of $86.60. Our proposition – Proposition 4 – affects only Museum funding and has no impact on the school budget.
 
Voting takes place May 20, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Shelter Island School Gymnasium. All registered voters who reside in the Shelter Island School District are eligible to cast their ballots. Anyone wishing to register can do so from 2 to 6 p.m. on May 8 in the school lobby. Absentee ballots can be requested from the school district beginning April 20; they must be received by the School District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 20 for your vote to count.

For further information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions, 2024 Profit and Loss statement and 2025 Operating Budget. 
 
Your Museum thanks you in advance for your support! Help us make history! ​

​FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
​Why is the Shelter Island History Museum seeking taxpayer support? ​

• Public funding would provide a stable foundation to ensure the Museum remains open with free access to all.  

The History Museum cannot fulfill its mission to “welcome and connect our community by exploring our shared history through exhibits, research, educational programs and performances” without sustainable, reliable funding. Having public funding would give us the ability to expand activities and programs for adults, children and families. It would ensure that our archives and collections continue to grow so we can better understand how Shelter Islanders — generations of our families, friends and neighbors — lived and worked and how their legacy relates to the broader history of the East End.
​How much money is the History Museum requesting?

• We are asking for $275,000, which is 63% of our annual operating budget of $434,000 for 2025-26 and annually thereafter.

The funding request will appear on the same ballot as the Shelter Island Union Free School District budget as Proposition 4. Your vote on Proposition 4 is for Museum funding only. It has no effect on the school budget.
​How would it affect my taxes?

• The Museum tax rate would be $0.0433 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

If your property is assessed at $1,000,000 it would be $43.30, or $3.60 a month — that translates to 12 cents a day.  
​How would the History Museum use the money?

• The money raised would help cover the cost of the History Museum’s general operations as well as regular maintenance and necessary repairs to our building, including the 282-year-old Havens House.​

In turn, the Museum will be able to expand education and community programs, the Living History Project, lecture series and workshops for residents and visitors of all ages, year-round, free of charge. We will increase our capacity as a research center by growing our archives of historic documents and oral histories, and improve public access and interaction with our collections of artwork, farm and seafaring tools, clothing, furniture and household items. Be assured that all of our treasures will be maintained safely and without concern of deterioration for future generations.
​Doesn’t the History Museum already have a lot of money?
 It built that new wing after all.

• The project was made possible only through the incredible generosity of Bill and the late Elizabeth Pedersen and 425 individual donors.​

We are proud of the extensive work to preserve and restore Havens House along with the conference room and archival vault. However, the project was not the result of a bountiful cache of funds.
​Why isn’t fundraising enough?

• Like most small not-for-profit organizations, the Museum depends entirely on donations, which can be unpredictable and unreliable.

We struggle every year to raise enough money to keep our doors open and the lights on, so to speak. Nothing about that has changed. Our operating budget is bare bones. Basic expenses for heat, electricity, air conditioning, insurance, staff, security, supplies and general maintenance cost more than $36,000 a month. 
​Don’t you receive grant money?

• Yes, we do apply for grants when appropriate but they do not cover general operating expenses.​

Grants are not guaranteed. Funding is time-limited and targeted for specific donor-designated projects. The availability of federal grants is fast becoming non-existent following executive orders from the White House to freeze all funding. 
​How can the History Museum ask for taxpayer funding anyway?

• Sections 253-256 of the State Education Law allow museums and libraries to seek public funding through ballot propositions.​

The Shelter Island History Museum was chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in December 2024. Other East End historical organizations, including Rocky Point, Sag Harbor, Westhampton, East Hampton and Southampton, have transitioned from societies to museums. All have seen their funding propositions pass. Note that the state recognizes only libraries and museums as the only non-profit organizations that are eligible for taxpayer funding.
​Why should I support the Museum’s funding proposition?

• The Shelter Island History Museum is your museum.

Every person who lives on Shelter Island is a part of its history. Every person who owns property on Shelter Island owns a piece of its history. A favorable vote on Proposition 4 means you are willing to invest in our mission to preserve the island’s unique story and be a partner in all of our efforts to share it.
​How does the Museum support the Island’s economy?

•  The museum puts almost $50,000 a year back into the Island’s economy by using many local service providers and by purchasing goods from Island businesses. ​

Additionally, one-third of our Farmers’ Market vendors are Shelter Island businesses. We also provide meeting and vendor space for local non-profit organizations free of charge. All of our staff are Shelter Island residents, with the exception of one part-timer who is a college student and summer resident.
​The Museum’s 2025 budget allocates $260,975 for salaries.
Why is that so high?

• We currently employ two full-time staff, two part-time staff and two seasonal staff. Two positions included in the budget amount are for archivist and collections curator. They remain unfilled.

​Will the Museum still fundraise if the proposition is approved?

•  YES!

We will continue to seek private donations and hold fundraising events to fully fund our operations and public programs and to establish an endowment fund to invest in the Museum’s future.
​What happens if the proposition doesn’t pass?

• Without public funding, the Museum will be unable to enhance its community services by expanding free programs and exhibits.​

We would also need to postpone maintenance and needed repairs to the interior and exterior of Havens House. The Museum would have to continue to devote most of its resources to fundraising rather than fulfilling its mission adequately.
​When does voting on Proposition 4 take place?

• Voting takes place from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at the school gym.​

Keep in mind that Proposition 4 has no effect on the school budget. It is an independent funding request. It is the last proposition on the ballot. 
​Who can vote?

• All registered voters who reside in the Shelter Island School District, which encompasses all of Shelter Island, are eligible.​

Those who wish to vote but are not yet registered can do so from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 8 in the school lobby. Applications for absentee ballots can be requested from the school district by sending an email to  [email protected] or by calling 631-749-0302, ext. 101 before May 13; it’s advisable to apply sooner. Absentee ballots can be requested in person at the school district office or the Shelter Island Library up until 3 p.m. May 19. All absentee ballots must be received by the School District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 20, or your vote will not be counted.