Wantagh school board proposes $77.95 million budget

Posted

Citing mandated spikes to health insurance and teacher pension rates as challenges, the Wantagh Board of Education will ask taxpayers to vote on a 2018-19 school budget of $77.95 million on May 15. The tentative budget is a 1.41 percent increase over the school’s 2017-18 fiscal plan of $76.87 million, with New York state’s mandated expenditures adding more than $1 million to the budget.

To fund the proposed budget, the district would raise the tax levy –– the total amount that must be collected in taxes to meet expenses — by 2.82 percent. This would bring the estimated school-tax bill for an average home valued at $331,036 to $8,855, a $243 hike over the current year.

Property taxes would fund 74.1 percent of the 2018-19 budget, while $17.05 million in state aid would cover about 21.9 percent.

If this proposed budget passes, it will help the district act on new security and mental health measures, such as hiring a district safety coordinator and an elementary school guidance counselor.

“Health and safety initiatives are always a top priority,” McNamara said. “With our cost savings, we were able to accomplish these goals without adding any dollars to the budget beyond those mandated for the state’s health and pension rate increases. We want to provide the best education we can for our students in the most efficient way possible.”

As Assistant Superintendent for Business Adriana Silver explained, the district has a tax-levy increase limit for 2018-19 of 2.96 percent due to factors such as this year’s Consumer Price Index and the State Department of Taxation’s tax base growth factor. Because the proposed tax-levy increase — 2.82 percent —falls under that cap, the budget does not need a super-majority vote — 60 percent — in order to pass.

The May 15 vote will also decide whether the district can establish a capital reserve fund, which would be funded over the next 10 years with up to $7.5 million, provided that funds become available from future budget savings, increased revenues or other available funds. This reserve would be used for safety, security and infrastructure improvements — renovations, replacements and upgrades to existing school property — around the district.