Cost-cutting budget plans

The Hewlett-Woodmere School District is drafting its 2011-12 budget in preparation for the May 17 school budget vote.

Dr. Peter Weber, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, said that budgetary reductions are necessary with or without Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed tax cap, which would limit the growth of the property tax levy — the total revenue collected in property taxes — to 2 percent a year or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. The State Senate passed the tax cap bill by a vote of 45 to 17 on Monday. And on Tuesday, Coumo revealed his proposed budget, which cuts state aid to schools by $1.5 billion, or 7 percent.

Among the key factors that school budgeters must contend with are lower revenues and rising expenses, such as salaries, special education and energy costs and state and federal mandates. Some of those mandates include transportation, health insurance, home instruction and standardized testing. According to Weber, mandates make up 15 to 20 percent of the budget.

Hewlett-Woodmere Central Council PTA President Cheryl May has plenty of experience with school budgets, having been involved in the PTA since her daughter, now in fifth grade, was in pre-kindergarten. May said that unfunded mandates force local taxpayers to pick up the bill and are a challenge to all school districts.

Higher fuel costs have forced the district to cut expenses by using natural gas, which is less than a third the cost of oil. The district began shutting off computers at the end of the school day, using energy-efficient light bulbs and installing geo-thermal energy systems to save money. Weber said that the Woodmere Education Center does not currently have natural gas but is working with National Grid and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to convert the center to use natural gas. Given recent prices, the district would save $34,000 a year for that building alone.

The 2010-11 budget included a little more than $7.8 million for facilities, operations and safety costs, which include salaries for jobs such as maintenance and grounds staff as well as furniture, facilities equipment, utilities, maintenance contracts, security, telephone and supplies. “We’re always looking for things that will help us reduce costs,” Weber said. “Although budgets are a one-year event, you can’t think one year, you have to think on a long-term basis.”

Hewlett-Woodmere is facing a loss in revenue from federal funding and state aid. Other school revenue includes the fees people pay for services and investment interest income. State aid is based on the district’s need, and Hewlett-Woodmere is known as a wealthy district based on property values and resident income. State aid for the district this budget year is a little more than $5 million.

School board President Stephanie Gould said the district understands the tough economic times people are facing. “We’ll need to be very careful about how we budget and what the community can afford,” Gould said. “We’re going to try and maintain the quality of education that our district is known for. We will maintain it.”

More than five years ago, Hewlett-Woodmere formed a District Leadership Team, comprising directors, principals, district office staff and assistant principals, to help delineate budget choices and their consequences. Before the team existed, the district used a more site-based approach at each school. “It’s a different approach but we get better answers,” Weber said of the team. “We’re thankful the board allows us to use them.”

Instead of cutting services and programs, Weber said, the district is looking at better ways of doing things. Hewlett-Woodmere had an alternate high school for struggling students, but after examining the costs, the district decided to start two after-school programs instead, which have been successful, and have saved the district $347,000 annually. “It doesn’t mean changes will negatively affect students, but services will be offered in a different way,”

Weber said.

If voters reject the budget in May, the district can bring the same budget up for a re-vote again in June or submit a new spending plan to voters. The district can also forgo a second vote and declare a contingency budget.

A contingency budget is limited by law to a growth cap of 120 percent of the Consumer Price Index for the previous year or 4 percent more than the current budget, whichever is less. For 2011-12, the maximum increase under contingency would be 1.92 percent.

While the PTA has not received much information about the budget, May said the association is confident about what’s to come. “I’m optimistic that the administration and board will do the best job they can in bringing in a fair budget,” she said. “But in the next 30 days or so, we’ll have a clearer picture.”

The next Board of Education Budget Development meeting is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Woodmere Education Center.