By Brian Zanzonico
School officials will bring the budget before the public on April 24. As of press time, the proposed budget is about $30.4 million - a 5.2 percent increase over the current spending plan. That represents a 3.83 percent increase in taxes for the average taxpayer.
"The $400,000 in increased state aid secured by our local representatives allows us to give it back to taxpayers to lower the tax rate," said Franklin Square schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Dolan.
Some of the budget highlights include:
n New playgrounds for all three schools at a total of $100,000. State-of-the-art playground equipment will be installed, as will rubber flooring for increased safety.
n Security cameras at the various access points in the three schools that will record 24 hours a day.
n Three science lab aides - one in each school - and the elimination of the science teacher position. The science teacher previously worked at all three schools, and the science labs were open only when the teacher was on the premises. Dolan said with the addition of the three aides, science labs would now be open all day.
n Add one more bus and driver to the district's school bus fleet.
Dolan said school officials will further tweak the budget up until April 24.
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