By Andrew Hackmack
Including the Central High School District, all budget increases are between 4 and 6 percent.
Administrators said their goal this year was to maintain programs and staffing levels, while also addressing facility needs. Two districts have capital reserve propositions to make use of existing surplus funds for repairs.
District 24
The proposed 2008-09 budget is an increase of 4.77 percent over the current year. "This is a bare bones budget, one of the lowest increases in the county," Superintendent Ed Fale said of the $25.5 million spending plan.
On May 8, Fale and Assistant Superintendent Dan Onorato presented the proposed 2008-09 school budget at the William L. Buck School. They brought good news, informing residents that projected state aid has increased to $5.5 million, one of the highest amounts in the southwest quadrant of Nassau County.
That increase means a likely decrease in the homeowner portion of District 24 school taxes. The resident of an average-priced home should see a $50 to $100 reduction in taxes. With the high school portion of the school taxes increasing about $143 per year, that potentially means an increase of only $43 per household.
Driving the budget increase this year is $500,000 for capital improvements, $254,340 for the retirement funds for teachers and staff, $132,740 payable for BOCES services and $10,000 in tuition and transportation for students with special needs.
Fale said maintenance projects in the budget include heating and lighting upgrades at all three buildings, resurfacing the parking lots at Buck and Carbonaro schools and rebuilding a retaining wall at Carbonaro. As for technology, additional SmartBoards would be purchased so there would be one for each classroom.
District 30
Residents of this district should also see a reduction in taxes. Assistant Superintendent for Business Ed Cullen said the average homeowner would see a reduction in taxes of $66 for the elementary schools. The high school portion of their tax bill should go down about $90. "It's a decrease across the board, which is good new for District 30 residents," he said.
The proposed $29.2 million budget is an increase of 4.9 percent over this year. Although the tax levy will rise by 3.52 percent, commercial properties in District 30 will bear more of the cost, resulting in the decrease for homeowners.
Increases in the budget include $75,000 for a new math program and $40,000 to implement the first part of a six-year technology plan. "We think it's a fiscally responsible budget," Cullen said.
A second proposition on the ballot will allow the district to spend $1.75 million for repairs at Shaw Avenue School. The roof, with the exception of the new wing, would be replaced and new rescue windows would be installed as the size of the openings are not up to current code. These projects would be funded from money the district already has.
District 13
The average home in District 13 is worth about $453,000, and that owner's tax bill would rise $68 if the budget is approved. "It is less of an increase than it has been in many years," said Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lison. "We've usually been in the hundreds."
The high school portion of taxes in District 13 would rise $129, for a combined tax increase of $197.
District 13's $40.4 million budget proposal is a 5.26 percent increase over this year. There is one new staff position in the budget. A fourth math specialist would be added so there is one person full-time at each building. The budget maintains all other staffing and class size levels while adding some instructional technology resources. Building maintenance items include bathroom and roof repairs.
A second proposition would extend transportation to all students in the district who live more than a half-mile from the school. Currently, students in grades K-3 are eligible for transportation at this distance while those in grades 4-6 must live a mile away.
If approved, this proposition would add $267,000 to the budget. The increase to an average homeowner would be $29 per year.
Central High School District
Board of Education members have proposed a $96.5 million budget for the Valley Stream Central High School District, a 4.94 percent increase.
"We are hopeful that the community will see our budget increase as being reasonable and balanced between meeting the needs of our student and our tax levy," Superintendent Dr. Marc Bernstein said. He added that when the district received extra state aid, it was used to reduce tax impact. It was initially expected that the tax levy would rise about 6 percent, but that figure was since reduced to 3.5 percent.
A second proposition on the ballot would allow the district to spend $1.6 million for capital repairs. Projects includes the installation of an elevator for district offices, replacement of the district telephone system, athletic track repairs at all three high schools, replacing the football goal posts at South High School and gymnasium floor repairs.
AnneMarie Allocca contributed to this story.
Comments about it? AHackmack@liherald. com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
