By:VICTORIA A. CARUSO
North Merrick homeowners will see their property taxes rise 6.7 percent if voters approve their elementary school district budget on Election Day, Tuesday, May 15.
The hike would mean a tax bill next school year of about $2,100 for a home assessed at $6,000, according to officials. That would be an increase of rougly $130 over 2000-2001.
During a recent school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Estelle Kamler reviewed the district's proposed spending plan for next year, which includes an 8.17 increase in expenditures. The total 2001-2002 budget would be about $16.2 million if approved by voters, up from almost $15 million this year.
"Over the past five or six years, we have been fortunate," said Kamler. "There were two years where we had no change, and one year there was a decrease. For [2001-2002,] we are projecting that the tax-rate increase will be in the 6-percent range, which would result in a budget-to-budget increase of 8 percent."
Kamler also called the district's budget increases moderate considering all the rising standards set by the state Education Department.
"The district has been very resourceful," said Kamler. "There has been a lot of creative planning...."
School districts receive income through property taxes -- their largest source -- and state aid. The North Merrick School District got$4.2 million in aid this year and is anticipating an aid reimbursement of $5.1 million for 2001-2002. That figure would cover less than 32 percent of the district's costs.
The amount North Merrick spends on classroom instruction is expected to rise 5.8 percent next year, from about $11.3 million to almost $12 million, officials said.
Dr. Matthew Kuschner, North Merrick School Board president, said the increase would go for additional staff development, conferences and another social worker and English as a Second Language teacher.
Kamler said North Merrick has one ESL teacher working
with 25 students in three schools. A second ESL teacher is needed to provide more individualized instruction for a growing immigrant population.
"The children are in each of our three buildings, and it is impossible, with the level of proficiency needed to service them, for us to do it with only one teacher," said Kamler.
North Merrick's capital budget would jump by about 22 percent next year, from about $1.7 million to $2.1 million. North Merrick officials are looking to install a new roof and windows at the Camp Avenue School; new gym lights and blacktop in the parking lot at the Harold D. Fayette School; and new clocks at the Old Mill Road School.
The capital budget also includes a $36,500 increase for a hot-lunch program at Old Mill Road and Fayette. The money would go to renovate kitchens at the schools.
"Funding for the renovations of the kitchen were necessary in order for Old Mill Road and Fayette to have their own lunch program," said Kamler. "Although we have to put money out in the beginning, we will get money back over a short period of time because it is a concession. The money we take in will come back to the district."
Voting will take place 2-10 p.m. at the Harold D. Fayette School. Election of school board trustees will also occur at this time. Residents who are not registered to vote may do so at the district office, Monday-Friday, 9 a .m.-3 p.m. For more information, call the North Merrick School District at (516) 292-3694.
