Support Valley Stream's school budgets on May 18

A well-planned budget in District 13

District 13’s proposed budget for the 2010-11 school year comes in at $41.3 million, less than a 1 percent increase over this year. School officials worked hard to keep the increase low because state aid for next year will likely be cut.

With no state budget yet, it is unknown just how much the district will be impacted by the final state aid numbers. The governor’s proposed budget would give District 13 about $580,000 less next year. That’s a lot to make up. And it’s unlikely that the state Legislature can do much better with a multi-billion-dollar deficit to plug.

The proposed spending plan would increase elementary school taxes for the average homeowner by about $40 a year. In this economy, it’s hard to ask residents to give even a dollar more. However, we believe district officials have done a good job of paring back expenses. No programs will be cut next year. No teachers will lose their jobs. The education that District 13 parents expect for their children will remain intact.

This budget is good for students and good for taxpayers. The District 13 community takes pride in its schools, and this spending plan preserves quality education. The district has made many strides in recent years and we’d hate to see it take a step back. We urge you to vote “yes” on the budget on Tuesday.

District 24’s budget is good for everyone

It’s rare for a school budget to reduce homeowners’ taxes. It’s even more rare for a budget to do that three years in a row. But that’s what’s being offered in District 24.

On Tuesday, voters will decide on a $26.6 million spending plan in Valley Stream’s smallest elementary school district. It reduces the tax levy, so an average homeowner’s elementary school tax bill should go down about $20. It’s hard to argue with a budget that includes savings.

More important, it preserves all programs in the district, a year after some small cuts were made. There are a few staff reductions, but those are based on enrollment and shouldn’t affect class sizes.