Proposed Hewlett-Woodmere school budget up by $4 million

Spending in the Hewlett-Woodmere school district could increase by more than $4 million, the tax levy will remain the same, however residents’ tax bills could also go up should the proposed budget be approved.

Discussing the tentative fiscal plan, Marie Donnelly, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and personnel, said the proposed 2023-2024 budget is $135.17 million, a $4.4 million increase from the current budget.

Responding to a request from the Board of Education not to increase the tax levy, Donnelly addressed that at the March 16 meeting. The tax levy is the amount of money a school district collects in taxes. The district’s tax levy limit for 2023-24 is 3.36 percent and will see no increase in levy from the 2022-23 budget as the figure would be the same if the budget were to be approved. Hewlett-Woodmere’s estimated tax levy is $108,577,500.

“Based on our conversation last week,” Donnelly said, “a couple of board members wanted a zero percent tax levy increase. I increased our reserve usage to bring our property tax levy down to the $108.5 million that we were at last year. There is no change.”

Although the proposed budget sees no change in the tax levy, Donnelly pointed out the possibility homeowners could still see a change in tax statements.

“I caution you that although there is no change in the tax levy,” Donnelly said, “that doesn’t mean there will be no change in people’s tax bills.”

Donnelly emphasized that when she submits information to Nassau County on how much money is needed to run the district,  The rest of the tax calculations are out of the district’s control.

“We were faced with some challenges,” Donnelly said in an email, “this year in preparing the expenditure budget.”

In Gov. Kathy Hochul’s record-breaking $227 billion budget proposal , $34.5 billion was proposed for schools across the state. If approved by both houses of the State Legislature, Hewlett-Woodmere would receive $19.8 million in state aid, an increase from $15.6 million for the current school year.

Donnelly said the projected increase in aid from the state played a factor in being able to not increase the tax levy. The exact state aid amount is finalized when the state approves the budget. The deadline is April 1.

“A lot of it is projections,” she said, “a lot of the aid that are in the state aid package are expense based aids such as BOCES and transportation.”

Districtwide improvements are also part of the proposed budget.

“We have allocated funds for facilities improvements to maintain our buildings and grounds,” Donnelly stated in an email, “improvements include lighting/CCTV additions and upgrades, perimeter fencing replacements, window upgrades and replacements, plumbing upgrades, restroom restoration and repair, security and technology upgrades.”

District voters are also being asked to approve $17.2 million in renovations at Hewlett High School and Woodmere Middle School. 

The proposed project would upgrade the middle and high school’s science rooms, redesign the high school auditorium and replace the artificial turf field at the high school.

Another form of state aid called building aid will also help pay for the renovations. Based on current calculations, the district should receive $8.9 million. 

A public budget forum took place on March 21 at the Woodmere Education Center, 1 Johnson Place, Woodmere. Voting for the budget, trustees and propositions  is on May 16 from 7 a.m.  to 10 p.m., also at the education center.