School Budget Vote

School Budget Vote

By Erica Jackson

 

On May 18, voters from Commack, Hauppauge, Kings Park, and Smithtown will converge on their polling places to vote on their respective school budgets. With increased costs for teacher retirement funds and insurance; a new MTA tax; and nearly $1.4 billion cut in state aid this year, all local school districts are proposing to raise the tax levy to make ends meet.Photo By Shannon Troccoli

In Commack, Laura Newman, assistant superintendent for finance, said the school district is proposing a 2.56 budget to budget increase. That raise carries with it a 3.96 percent tax levy or in dollars, the average homeowner would be asked to pay an additional $330 to $360.

“We have tried to put together a budget the whole community can support,” said Newman.  “The board is aware of the economic times we are in and is trying to respond to all segments of the community by meeting all needs.”

The increase in taxes, said Newman accounts for a $1.8 million loss in state aid and an increase in pension costs.

To reduce the tax levy, Newman said the district tapped $3.2 in reserve funds and made cuts. Reductions were made in staffing, to the athletic department, to after school programs and to secondary elective programs.

Transportation will also be effected in the elementary schools. According to Newman, nearly $800,000 was saved by changing bus routes to add ten students per bus.  

“We want parents to know that this will increase buss route time by about ten minutes,” said Newman.

For more information on the Commack School District budget, please visit http://www.commack.k12.ny.us/  Photo By Shannon Troccoli

In Hauppauge, James Stucchio, assistant superintendent for finance, said the school district is putting out a budget that includes a 1.27 percent budget to budget increase.  This equates to a 3.24 percent tax levy and the average homeowner will be asked to pay an additional $148 in taxes.

The increase, says Stucchio, accounts for a $1.2 million loss in state aid and dramatic increases in payments to the MTA tax, the teachers retirement fund and insurance.

“Unfortunately, we had to make some cuts,” said Stucchio.

Among those cuts are 23.7 staff members of which 12.7 are teaching positions. Cuts were also made, said Stucchio to the district’s overtime, substitute and summer school programs. “We also reduced as much equipment as possible and capital construction costs,” said Stucchio.

In addition, Stucchio said the district utilized $700,000 in reserve funds to help lower the tax levy.

“We are fortunate to be able to put together a lean budget and keep our programs and initiatives in the district intact.” said Stucchio.

For more information on the Hauppauge School District budget, please visit http://www.hauppauge.k12.ny.us/metadot/index.pl

In Kings Park, Dr. Susan Argruso, superintendent of schools, said the district is proposing a budget increase of Photo By Shannon Troccoli 2.11 percent.  The tax levy for that increase would be 2.11 percent or $133 for the average homeowner.

“I know these are hard economic times, but the board did a good job balancing priorities and maintaining programs to provide a good education for our students,” said Dr. Argruso.  

With that, Dr. Argruso, said cuts were required to account for a $1 million loss in state aid and increased costs for salaries and benefits.

“We didn’t cut programs, but we had to eliminate double teams at the middle schools and late busses,” said Dr. Argruso.

In addition, classes sizes will increase and some teachers will be laid off, said Dr. Argruso.

For more information on the Kings Park School District budget, visit http://www.kpcsd.k12.ny.us/. Photo By Shannon Troccoli

In Smithtown, Superintendent of Schools Edward Ehmann says the school district is looking to increase its budget by .11 percent.  For taxpayers that translates into a 1.66 percent increase in taxes or $130.30 for the average assessed home.

The increase, said Ehmann, mostly accounts for a $3.6 million loss in state aid and a $400,000 payment to the new MTA tax.  

In order to keep the tax levy at bay, Ehmann said the district did need to make some cuts, but not as many as other districts. He said, “I am pleased that we didn’t have to make as many cuts as other districts, but I am still concerned about the pattern of state aid cuts each year.”

Smithtown was fortunate enough, said Ehmann that there were a number of teachers retiring. The district is also looking at a declining enrollment, which would require fewer teachers for the upcoming school year. The district, also said Ehmann is utilizing a portion of its reserve funds to hold the line on taxes.

For more information on Smithtown School District budget, please visit http://ww5.smithtown.k12.ny.us/