Seaford schools approve budget of $80.4 million for 2023-24 school year

We are very cognizant of the need to offer a budget that maintains our robust programs.”

Rhonda Meserole, assistant superintendent, Seaford schools

What’s on the May 16 ballot?

Proposition 1: School budget vote

Proposition 2: Use of capital reserve, up to $1.5 million, to fund outdoor handicapped accessible bathrooms and comfort station

Proposition 3: Use of up to $500,000 in reserves for various repairs to asphalt walkways and stairwells at Seaford High School

Election of two Board of Education trustees

Seaford School District budget

Adopted budget: $80,479,174

Budget increase: $3,082,223 — 3.98 percent

Projected tax levy increase: $1,358,065 — 2.37 percent

Voters in Seaford will go to the polls on May 16 to decide whether to pass an $80.4 million school budget for 2023-24.

At its April 4 meeting, the Seaford Board of Education adopted the spending plan, which is 3.98 percent larger than the current budget. The projected tax levy shows an increase of  $1.3 million, or 2.37 percent.

“We are very cognizant of the need to offer a budget that maintains our robust programs while trying to do so with the lowest impact on our taxpayers and, quite honestly, there is something for everyone in this budget,” Rhonda Meserole, Seaford’s assistant superintendent for business and operations, said.

The projected tax levy — the money collected by the district through property taxes — would total around $58.5 million, which is the third-lowest levy in the last seven years, but still amounts to a $1.35 million increase over the current year. The extent to which property taxes will be raised is determined after the district considers all the other estimated sources of revenue.

The preliminary 2023-24 budget factors in $18.2 million in state aid, an increase of $2.17 million from 2022-23. The state aid expenses include $30,564 in technology aid, $1.4 million in building aid and $11.3 million in foundation aid, which is earmarked for schools with high-need students. Foundation aid, which shows an increase of 17.3 percent, allows the district to make instructional and structural improvements. When foundation aid exceeds 10 percent, the district formulates a foundation aid plan. A new component in the budget will include $167,769 in aid for high-impact tutoring to address additional services for students.

Other expenditures include security enhancements, such as additional unarmed security guards during playground time and a daytime “roaming” guard.

The largest chunk of the budget, around $45 million, is set aside for instruction.

In addition to voting on the budget and electing two school board trustees, residents will decide whether to approve a $1.5 million proposition for handicap-accessible outdoor bathrooms and a comfort station that will be adjacent to a new multi-purpose turf field. This proposition will come at no additional cost to taxpayers, district officials said, adding that they are hopeful this will be covered through New York State’s CREST grant.

Another proposition on the ballot will ask voters to approve up to $500,000 in repair reserves for an asphalt walkway adjacent to the multi-purpose field and for new stairwells at Seaford High School, which was assessed in a building condition survey.

“The asphalt has cracks in it so it will be a nice finishing touch to this magnificent field that we see being completed right in front of us,” Meserole said.

The public vote for both the 2023-24 budget and Board of Education trustees will be held on May 16, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., at both Manor and Harbor elementary schools, with the Board of Education holding a special meeting immediately following the voting.

To view budget information, as well as recordings of Seaford’s budget presentations, visit tinyurl.com/seafordbudget.