H-W unveils a preliminary $115.35m budget

Included in Hewlett-Woodmere School District's proposed $115.35 million budget for the 2016-'17 fiscal year is money to hire at least two full-time and two-part-time teachers and support four new programs.

The tentative fiscal plan is $1.726 million more than the current $113.3 million budget and includes a tax levy of $98 million, which is the money the school district needs to collect in property taxes. The district's tax cap is set at .48 percent.

Assistant Superintendent for business and Deputy Superintendent for the district, Peter Weber, said that the levy was at its lowest in years. "In looking at the levy, with it being under .5 percent, it's historic," he said. "As we look at our budget, we must always ask ourselves, is this what we want to present to the public?"

In addition, $3 million was transferred to the capital fund for boiler replacement at the Franklin Early Childhood Center and installation of air conditioning at Hewlett Elementary School.

The four program initiatives under consideration are expansion of student-training in cardio pulmonary resuscitation and use of an automatic electronic defibrillator, increasing science lab support for grades 6-12, implementing the Bridg-It bullying reporting system for grades 4-12, and additional science classes for special needs children.

A 5.7 percent increase in state aid is projected. The district could receive more than $7.76 million. Current state aid is more than $7.34 million. Final figures won't be known until the state finalizes its budget. The deadline is April 1.

"With state aid, depending on what we get, we should be much more careful in regards to our reserve," Weber said. "We are in good shape now though."

Additional money could be coming through reimbursement of what is called the GAP Elimination Adjustment. This is money that was cut during the fiscal crises of 2010 and 2011, and never repaid to the school districts. Hewlett-Woodmere's GAP adjustment is $632,170.