Saturday, April 26, 2025
The Oceanside School District held its third budget workshop at the March 12 board meeting which offered a detailed look at the district’s budget strategy, with a strong emphasis on fiscal responsibility and transparency. For parents and residents, here are the three most important points to understand about the school budget:
Expenditure Growth and Tax Levy
The total proposed budget reaches $186.7 million with no program cuts. The proposed budget represents a 2.93 percent increase from the previous year. The increase in the overall expenditure budget will support classroom staffing, enhanced curriculum, and essential services. To fund these initiatives without heavily burdening taxpayers, a minimal 1.1 percent tax levy increase was recommended. This rise is among the lowest in Nassau County. Modest expenditure increase, minimal tax levy hike and effective management of revenue sources—ensures that quality education is maintained without significantly raising local taxes. The district’s tax cap formula allows a maximum tax levy limit of $131,787,272, ensuring that proposed increases remain within legal boundaries.Residents are encouraged to review the publicly available budget documents or contact district representatives.
Revenue Sources and Financial Management
Revenue discussions centered on managing pilot payment agreements and direct assessments. Pilot agreements temporarily reduce property taxes for certain properties, but once they expire, those properties revert to full taxation—boosting future revenue. This year, the district faced a $500,000 reduction from direct assessments, down from $1 million last year. These reductions are compounded to an estimated $32 million over seven years. Despite this, careful reserve management has allowed the district to absorb these losses.
Additional state aid increased by $5 million, bringing total state aid to $38.7 million. This boost, along with building aid from recent projects, helps fund the budget. Funds allocated for Universal Pre-K (UPK) support 287 pre-K seats and are dedicated solely to early learning, not affecting the general operating budget.
3. Understanding Key Tax Terms
Tax Levy: The total amount collected from property taxes to fund district operations. A 1.1 percent increase means only a slight rise in overall revenue collection.
Tax Cap and Levy Growth Factor: Legal limits tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) that restrict how much the tax levy can grow—set at 2 percent or less—to keep increases predictable.
Pilot Payments & Direct Assessments: Reduced tax arrangements for certain properties that, when expired, boost future revenue; adjustments are made to account for these reductions.
State Aid: Funding provided by the state based on factors like property values and student needs, which supplements local revenue.
Residents can review the full budget details online and attend the budget vote on May 20, 2025, at Merle Avenue School gym from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
