Valley Stream school budget preview

District 13

Proposed budget: $43,217,705
Change: +$679,444 (+1.6 percent)
Tax levy: $31,992,885
Change: +$1,083,299 (+3.51 percent)
Tax cap allowable increase: 3.52 percent
Tax impact: The average homeowner would see their tax bill increase by $114.41 next year for elementary school taxes. The total increase, including high school taxes, is $190.06.

About the budget: The proposed spending plan maintains all programs and class sizes in the district. All teachers will have a hard salary freeze next year. There will be money for door replacements at the Howell Road and James A. Dever schools, roof repairs at the Willow Road and Wheeler Avenue School, blacktop replacement at Howell and Willow, and a second set of auditorium windows at Wheeler. Computers will be replaced in fourth grade classrooms, reading rooms and some kindergarten classes.

State aid: The district is slated to receive $8,879,320 in aid next year. That is a reduction of about $68,000. The district is losing some federal aid it has received in past years.

Bus proposition: There is a taxpayer requested referendum on the ballot to change transportation limits for students. If the proposition passes, all students living at least a half-mile from their school will be eligible for bus service. Currently, students in grades K-3 living a half-mile away and students in grades 4-6 living a mile away receive transportation. If it passes, it will add an additional $296,059 to the budget. The expected tax impact is $31.21 for the average homeowner per year.

Both the budget and the bus proposition need to be approved by 60 percent of voters to pass. The two propositions together mean a tax levy hike of 4.46 percent, more than the allowable increase under the tax-cap legislation.

Contingency budget: If the budget were to fail twice, the district would have to cut $1,108,299 from its proposed spending plan. Possible cuts could include the elimination of the summer recreation program, field trips, extra curricular activities and instrumental music. Class sizes could increase and the community’s use of district buildings and grounds could be restricted. All decisions would be made by the Board of Education.

Board of Education: There are two seats up for election this year. Incumbents Bill Stris and Jeanne Greco Jacobs are running unopposed. Terms are for three years.

Voting information: Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the
James A. Dever, Howell Road, Wheeler Avenue and Willow Road schools.