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Overcast School budget gets green light by board of ed
The East Rockaway Board of Education voted to approve their proposed $45.2 million budget for the 2024 to 2025 school year last Tuesday, which neighbors will vote on next month.
The proposed tax levy — the amount that the district can raise in revenue through property taxes — of 1.98 percent would be the third year in a row that the East Rockaway School District was below the allowable tax cap. The proposed budget is $1,309,807 — 2.98 percent — larger than the 2023 to 2024 budget. The state aid in the proposed budget increased by $161,091.
“The Suffolk County average levy increase is 2.6 percent, Nassau County is 2.84 percent, and Long Island is 2.66 percent,” James DeTommaso, superintendent of the East Rockaway School District, said at the BOE work session on April 9. “We are putting forth 1.9 percent because of the hard work of my team.”
The proposed budget will help provide more mental health support, increase the available number of universal pre-k seats, addition of JHS soccer team to athletic program, addition of “InnerOrbit” online science program for grades 4 to 5 students, continued renovation of technology building at the East Rockaway High School, continued district-wide upgrade and enhancement of surveillance camera system, and continued investment in flexible furniture to create 21st century instructional spaces in all buildings, significant investments to upgrade district network connectivity.
“So overall, this is a pretty significant enhancement to our existing posture as a district and a 2.98 percent increase from budget to budget is what we’re proposing as of today,” Michael Van Wart, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said.
The May ballot will include a proposition to seek authorization from voters to enter into an energy performance contract, not to exceed $4.5 million dollars, to improve the overall energy efficiency of the district by installing new or enhanced energy systems. If approved, the district receives an additional 10% of the total cost of the project back in building state aid and the district can finance the project at more favorable financing terms. If not approved, the district receives 10% less in building state aid on total cost of the project and the district can only finance the project with a lease installment purchase contract at less favorable financing terms.
In this year’s proposed budget, the capital component of $5.5 million is $77,294 more than the approved 2023 to 2024 budget. The capital component of the proposed budget includes costs associated with security, custodial and maintenance staff, operations and maintenance of facilities, debt service, and capital projects.
The budget is split into three parts, which are the administrative, program, and capital. About 75 percent of the budget is the program, and about 12 percent of the budget is both the administrative and capital. The overall proposed budget is funded by the tax levy, about 75 percent of the budget, state aid, about 20 percent of the budget, and local sources and other financial resources, which fund about 5 percent of the budget.
The proposed 2024 to 2025 budget maintains all current levels of instructional programs, extracurricular activities, and professional development in addition to supporting the new proposed programs. The annual budget hearing will take place on May 14 at 6 p.m. at Centre Avenue school library. The budget vote will take place on May 21.
