Thursday, October 1, 2026
Dr. Melissa Burak, assistant superintendent for business, said that district officials began working on the 2010-11 budget last fall, and if Gov. David Paterson's state budget is approved, the district will lose nearly $1 million in state aid. If that were to happen, Burak said the tax levy increase could be higher than they had anticipated. "It will have a tremendous impact on the district," Burak said of the proposed state aid reductions. "We can only hope at this point that negotiations continue between the senators and governor. We all know how bleak the situation up in Albany is right now."
The tax levy increase in this year's budget was 4.6 percent.
The district anticipated receiving $8.5 million in state aid for the upcoming school year, Burak said, but with Paterson's cuts, that number could dip to $7.6 million. She added that district officials wanted to expand some programs — in particular a student laptop initiative — but it will be put on hold if the district loses the state aid. "We have already cut extra-curricular programs this year and eliminated clubs on the elementary level," Burak said. "We'll probably continue that at the high school. There were definitely some things we wanted to expand, but now everything is up for discussion."
Burak said that district officials will continue constructing the 2010-11 budget under the assumption of less state aid, however, a decrease in student enrollment has helped the district. With enrollment on the decline, Burak explained, the district could reduce its teaching staff because there are less to educate, which can save the district money. Some teachers will get excessed this year, Burak said, but she couldn't put a number on how many.
She added that the district, along with others on Long Island, have teamed up in the One Island One Voice initiative, a writing campaign that combines the efforts of local government, school officials and residents to lobby for additional state aid.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli may have a solution on how school districts can make up for the state aid shortfall in their operating budgets.
