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Last June, Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature enacted a 2 percent property-tax-levy cap, limiting the increase in property taxes that a school district can collect to meet expenses –– and limiting its ability to add programming to improve student performance.

Districts, the state essentially said, would have to make due with the resources currently at their disposal –– or persuade at least 60 percent of voters to override the cap and increase the levy beyond the limit.

Many district officials complain that the cap will force them -- if not now, then eventually –– to slash student programming. The reason is that every district has fixed costs that must be met, separate from all other budgeting considerations. Buildings must be well lighted, and heated in the winter. And district employees must receive the retirement packages that they have long been promised. Such costs increase annually at the rate of inflation, usually around 3 percent, or more, so revenues must increase. If a district cannot increase the property-tax levy –– and thus the budget –– beyond a certain amount, then cuts to non-mandated student programs are inevitable.

This year, districts are reducing spending in their 2012-13 budgets in any number of ways. The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District eliminated 23 staff positions, including eight teachers, after having already cut 25 positions in 2011-12. The Baldwin School District plans to close not one but two schools next year, in large part because of declining enrollment, but also as a cost-saving measure. The Rockville Centre School District renegotiated its teachers’ contract.

This, district officials say, is only the beginning. Every year hereafter, districts will be forced to limit their property-tax-levy increases to 2 percent unless they can garner enough votes to override the restriction. And so, in most school districts, officials say they see more cuts to come.

That might mean that elementary art, music and foreign language programs could be cut. Nine-period days might be pared to eight at the secondary level. Sports might be reduced or eliminated. And teaching staffs could get smaller.