Seaford's goal: maintain programs

Seaford School District officials, after restoring numerous programs and staff positions for this year, are simply looking to maintain everything for the 2016-17 school year.

The first round of public budget discussions were held on Feb. 25 at the Seaford Manor School. Elisa Pellati, the assistant superintendent for business, said that the goal is to create a balanced budget that preserves all programs. She said that a low allowable tax levy increase and the continued loss of state aid through the Gap Elimination Adjustment make it unlikely that Seaford will be able to add anything extra next year.

“This is not going to be much of an advancement year,” Superintendent Brian Conboy said.

Under the tax cap, school districts across the state can increase the tax levy by .12 percent, which is based on the rate of inflation. There are also exclusions that give each district a different allowable increase, and in Seaford, that is 1.16 percent.

Pellati said that the tax cap formula allows an exclusion for money spent on capital projects. In Seaford, the district will begin a four-year plan to replace ceilings in all the buildings, beginning with the middle school.

School officials are still hoping for full restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment when the state budget is finalized. Aid has been taken away from school districts over the past several years to help the state close its budget gap. Seaford is expected to get some money back, but still would lose about $513,000 next year.

The next budget meeting is set for March 10 at the Seaford Manor School. There will be presentations by the four principals. On March 31, the district will review state aid, fund balance and revenue projections. The proposed budget is expected to be adopted on April 19, and the budget vote is May 17.

The seats of Board of Education President Bruce Kahn and trustee JeanMarie Wink are up for election this year.