By:Andrew Coen
During a discussion on what the target budget should be for the 2005-06 school year at the Dec. 7 work session meeting, the school board came to a consensus that it should aim for a 3.5 percent increase over the current contingency budget of $85,417,887. District 15 Assistant Superintendent for Business Deirdre Gambino said that she estimates the contingency budget number to be around a 3.3 percent increase. School board member Frank Parise said he would like to check with school district lawyers to see if trustees need to put a budget before the voters or if they can adopt the contingency number on their own.
"The sense I get from the community is we're not going to get a budget passed," said Parise.
Trustee Pam Greenbaum also said that the board should start off with a budget at or around the contingency number and see what the district's needs are, and then go from there.
"It's a sign of the times," school board president Kathy Raquet-Barry said in a phone interview about why the board is trying to create a low budget increase due to escalating taxes out of the control of the school district.
Lawrence Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons said during the meeting he also supports using the contingency number as a launching pad, but is open to working with the board on whatever budget increase it decides to target. "You, the trustees, have to tell us what you think the community will support and we'll build a budget from that," said Fitzsimons.
Michelle Lineal, Lawrence assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said that the administration would get back to the board on how a 3.5 percent increase would affect the students' curriculum and programs. In order for the current programs and curriculum to stay the same, there would need to be a minimum 7 percent budget increase, according to Lineal.
In an effort to be forthcoming on how much residents can anticipate paying in taxes for next year, Fitzsimons and his administration developed different scenarios for how high and low property taxes may be. The estimates were based on how much the assessment of homes goes down - expected to be between $1.5 million and $2.5 million - and how much state aid the district receives - expected to be flat.
Fitzsimons said the Class 1 residential tax rate, which affects the most residents in the district, could range anywhere from a 9.55 percent to a 16.4 percent increase. Under one scenario, in which the budget is increased 3.5 percent and $1.5 million in assessments is lost, the result would be a 9.55 percent rate increase in Class 1 and a 3.9 percent tax levy increase, according to Fitzsimons. Under another possible scenario, in which the budget is increased 7 percent and $2.3 million in assessments is lost, the result would be a 16.4 percent increase for Class 1, according to Fitzsimons. Last year's contingency budget resulted in a 13.5 percent Class 1 increase.
Fitzsimons expressed frustration that while District 15's Class 1 tax rates went up 13.5 percent, much of it had nothing to do with the school district and was based on money lost from assessments and a small state aid increase. However, school board member Dr. David Sussman said that many in the community are aware of the situation and vote based on their pocketbook, regardless of what the factors are. "I think the community is educated and realizes that we didn't ask for 13.5 percent last year, but that is the check they are writing," said Sussman.
Dr. Sussman also said during the meeting that if the Class 1 property increase ends up being higher than last year's, that a budget cannot get passed. "Given the current reality, I don't see the district passing a budget that is a 16 or 17 percent Class 1 property increase," said Sussman.
The school board has until April before it needs to adopt a final budget and before District 15 residents vote on the proposal on May 17. The board is also exploring trying to pass a "mini bond" before the May 17 vote to address some of the district's building needs.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. at Lawrence High School.
Comments about this story? Acoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
