District makes cuts to comply with cap

In a 73-page PowerPoint presentation, Malverne school district administrators explained to the Board of Education and residents the intricacies, difficulties and realities of next year’s budget. There are about four dozen new academic mandates, expenses have increased, revenues have decreased and a new property tax cap has left administrators feeling like their hands are tied.

Schools Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund, his two deputies and the district’s budget director presented their first 2012-13 draft budget on Feb. 14; The picture they painted was bleak. Administrators will have to dip into the district’s already strained reserves, cut a number of instructional programs and excess staff.

To reach a livable budget-to-budget increase of 1.06 percent, Business Administrator Tom McDaid used $200,000 from the district’s reserves, bringing the total budget from $47.5 million to $48 million. Since the 2008-09 school year, reserves have decreased nearly 25 percent and the district is unable to replenish them as a result of the tax cap, according to McDaid. “Reserves could be depleted within three years,” he said. “I’m very skeptical in using reserves, however, at this time, if we don’t use anything, the budget-to-budget increase is only going to be $300,000. … We didn’t feel that the district could support a budget like that.”

McDaid said the state is still working out the details of the tax cap formula, which leaves open the possibility that the district could gain or lose more revenue. If it’s lucky enough to obtain additional revenue, McDaid will take back some of the reserve funds he used to raise the budget increase. “I need to save as much as I can,” he said. “We’re seeing thinner and thinner budgets, and … you’re not able to save as much,” which could eventually lead to a negative budget.

To make up costs of the new academic mandates, more than $575,000, district officials cut all summer programs except regents preparation, increased class sizes at every grade level and made reductions in the following areas:

• Art and music at the elementary school
• Elementary librarian