East Rockaway school reintroduces budget

By Mary Malloy

East Rockaway School District officials have been able to shave $113,000 from their original proposed budget of $33, 450, 435 that was voted down by residents on May 18 with a vote of 624-597.

They will offer this newly-stream lined budget up for a vote on June 15.

So where did the money come from?

“We met with the East Rockaway Teachers Association, and they have offered to increase their out-of-pocket contributions for health insurance,” said the school district’s Director of Finance and Operations Marcy Tannenbaum.

“We wanted to reduce the budget, but at the same time we didn’t want to see any of the programs cut for the students, “ said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Roseanne Melucci. “The teachers felt the same way.”

The new budget proposal reduces the first-proposed budget-to-budget increase of 2.19 — the smallest in nine years — to an even tighter 1.84 percent increase.

“The teachers really stepped up,” said Melucci. “We asked for their help, and they voluntarily offered this.” She pointed out that the teachers did made this concession even though they were not at risk of losing their own jobs. “If programs were cut, they would have been reassigned. They would not have lost their jobs.” The teachers are into the second year of a three-year contract. New negotiations will begin next year.

This was the most major change in the budget, with about $3,000 coming from professional funds that had been put aside for professional development, conference and workshops.

Tannenbaum explained that, by law, the budget can only go to a vote twice before it goes to contingency. “Then we will be forced to remove over $600,000 from the budget.” The contingent amount, she said, is based on the Consumer Price Index, which is usually 3 or 4 percent — but this year, it’s at zero. “The differences are so profound this year.”

Melucci and Tannenbaum invite the public to the next budget hearing on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at East Rockaway High School, 443 Ocean Ave. The second budget vote is scheduled for June 15 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., also at the high school.

In the meantime, Melucci and Tannenbaum urge anyone who would like assistance in calculating what these numbers mean to them and their homeowners’ taxes, to call the school’s business office at (516) 887-8300 ext. 553.

“We want people to get clear information — we want them to be informed.”

Comments about this story? Mmalloy@liherald.com