No tax hike in Wantagh

The Wantagh School District will maintain all programs next year, and will do so without collecting a dollar more from the public.

On April 16, the Board of Education adopted a $75.7 million budget for the 2015-16 school year that raises spending just .3 percent and keeps the tax levy flat, thanks to an unexpected boost in state aid.

While individual tax bills could fluctuate as a result of changes in property assessments, school officials say they have done their part in holding the line on taxes. “We’re all happy to have done it,” board President Anthony Greco said. “It’s the first time ever, from what I hear.”

Wantagh, according to its tax-cap calculation, was permitted a 1.8 percent increase in the tax levy. As late as April 14, when the district hosted a community budget forum at the library, school officials were considering a hike of 1.18 percent. The few members of the public who showed up urged board trustees to eliminate the levy increase altogether.

Greco said that trustees heard the message loud and clear, and asked administrators to see what they could do. The result, he added, speaks for itself.

Wantagh will receive about $15.35 million in state aid, about $670,000 more than it was expecting. It will account for about 20 percent of the district’s revenue.

William Russack, a former board member, was at the April 14 forum, and urged the trustees to take advantage of the opportunity to give the public a reprieve from rising taxes. Two days later, he was in the high school auditorium, and was one of several residents who stood up to thank the board. “It’s a historical moment in the 35 years that I’ve lived in Wantagh,” Russack said.

Jude Netto, who also attended the forum, encouraged the board to use more money from its savings in lieu of a property tax increase. He said that while the district is permitted to keep up to 4 percent of its budget in undesignated reserves, it doesn’t have to. “You have more of the taxpayers’ money than you should be holding,” he said.

Board Trustee Michael Cucci said that the district is trying to become less reliant on using its reserves to fund budgets. Next year, Wantagh will use $2.84 million from its fund balance and reserves.

One concern for district officials is the continued implementation of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, a calculation in the state aid formula that has been in place since 2009 and which reduces districts’ aid. Wantagh will lose about $1 million next year, and to date has not received about $12.9 million because of the GEA, money that the district will never get back, noted Adriana Silver, the assistant superintendent for business.

The proposed budget preserves all programs, maintains class sizes and adds more ESL teachers, new high school courses and a Computer Science Club. It also funds the purchase of new musical instruments, select textbooks and technological resources. “I think it’s a very good budget,” Greco said. “No programs were cut. Everything’s intact.”

The budget vote is Tuesday, May 19. Residents will also be voting on a proposition to spend $2.28 million from a capital reserve fund established last year for various repairs at the five schools.

Greco will be unopposed for the lone trustee seat that is up this year.