Malverne plans upgrades despite below-cap tax levy

Malverne school district residents will vote on a 2017-18 school budget on Tuesday that is under the New York state tax cap and has the lowest budget-to-budget spending increase in the district’s history.

The proposed $55.5 million budget shows a future tax levy increase of 1.31 percent and a spending increase of 1.79 percent. The tax levy is the amount of money needed to be raised from taxes after applying state aid and other income.

Residents will also vote on two additional propositions. Proposition 2 asks voters to grant the Board of Education permission to use $2.5 million from its capital reserve fund to perform district-wide work, including gym window replacement, track resurfacing, gym bleacher replacement and a new exercise room in the high school; Phase 2 of an air-conditioning upgrade, electrical upgrades and new gym bleachers in the middle school; window replacement, masonry repairs and bathroom upgrades at the Davison Avenue Intermediate School; and renovations of the bathrooms at the Maurice W. Downing School. It also includes the purchase of a maintenance van and district-wide site improvements.

Proposition 3 seeks voter approval to purchase 4 Central Ave., a property near the Davison Avenue School. “We bought one property that was converted into a parking area about four years ago. This is another one that adds on to the property that we still have,” said Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund, who added that the property is for future expansion — not for immediate use — and that the purchase would not cost residents money.

If the proposed budget were voted down, the district could present the same budget or a revised budget for a revote, or adopt a contingency budget. If a proposed budget were defeated twice, the district would have to adopt a contingency budget, which would require community use of buildings, and stop certain salary increases and new equipment purchases. Adopting a contingency budget could not increase the current tax levy.

Board officials reminded residents in an April newsletter that students who live in the district, but attend private school receive resources through the district, including bus service, books, use of buildings and athletic fields, computer software, health services, special education services, library materials and pupil personnel services.

Voting for the budget and board trustee positions will take place on Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Howard T. Herber Middle School gym.

For further information, see the district’s website at www.malverne.k12.ny.us.