Schissler added that crafting tighter budgets with smaller fund balances from year to year could prove difficult.With a state-imposed tax levy cap, districts face limitations in generating revenue. 

“Once you’ve established an amount that you’ve used as a fund balance, you’ve got to try to meet that every year because otherwise you start in the hole by that amount,” he said. “That’s a very tricky point; that’s where you have to be a good manager of your budget. You have to manage your expenditures and your revenues.” 

North Bellmore school officials say they have revamped their budget practices to produce tighter spending plans and reduce fund balance.

To read the audit and response letter, click here.