More state aid expected for local schools

School officials are hoping state aid will be enough to cover shortfalls in next year’s budget.

Municipalities across the state are expecting a minimal increase in their allowed tax levy this year. The increase is determined by the state’s tax cap formula, which in turn is largely determined by the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation. Districts can exceed the tax cap in their budget plans, but those that do will need a supermajority of at least 60 percent of voters to approve their spending plans.

“It’s going to be very close to zero,” Chris Van Cott, Oceanside’s assistant superintendent for business, said of the expected allowable tax levy increase. “CPI is trending right around zero percent.”

In 2009-10, the state began taking away school aid to fill in budget holes through the Gap Elimination Adjustment. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said that he wants those adjustments to end this year. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that putting an end to the GEA would take two years.

The state aid that the Oceanside school district will receive may not be enough to fill the gap. Last week, the governor’s office released the preliminary numbers for school aid in the state budget. Oceanside was set to receive $20.5 million, an 8 percent increase over the $19 million it received last year. This includes a $1.9 million reimbursement for construction projects over the past year — among them, roof renovations and a new security system. Other items, such as BOCES funding, are reimbursements for money already spent.

The gap elimination restoration for Oceanside was $477,030, but the state says the district is owed a little over $1.5 million. “We were thinking we would get half now [for 2016-17], and the balance of that in ’17-18,” said Van Cott. “But we only received 32 percent in the Gap Elimination Adjustment.”

Final numbers for school aid will be released with the state budget in the coming months — and they could be finalized as late as April 1, the day the budget is due. Van Cott said that aid is likely to increase, but district officials will have to plan the budget keeping limited funds in mind.

Oceanside will begin budget workshops next month, with the first scheduled for Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m., at School No. 4.

In Island Park, gap restoration funds total $43,661, or 31 percent, out of $140,505 the state owes the district. Total state aid for the 2016-17 school year is projected to be $2.3 million, which includes $433,006 for building aid.

Island Park school officials were not available for comment as of press time Monday. The district’s first budget work session is set for Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m., at the Conference Center across from Hegarty School.