By Mike Schnitzel and Nicole Falco
The Central High School District and elementary districts 13, 24 and 30 are maintaining the status quo in all current educational programs and extracurricular activities. In fact, only a few new educational initiatives and capital improvements are planned for next year. What accounts for the majority of the budget-to-budget hikes proposed in each district, as is the case year after year, are mandated increases in health insurance and utility costs, retirement benefits and contractual salary obligations.
The budget vote is Tuesday, and will take place at all 10 elementary schools and the Corona Avenue Firehouse from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in districts 13 and 30 and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in District 24.
If any of the proposals are voted down next week and again in a revote in June, the affected district would, by law, have to adopt a contingency, or austerity, budget. Under austerity, the state caps a district's expenditure increase at about 3.6 percent, which usually necessitates dramatic cuts in programs and services.
The districts' boards of education and administrators explained their proposed budgets and the impact they will have on taxpayers' finances at hearings on May 2, 3 and 4.
Central H.S. District
The Central High School District's $86.78 million proposed budget is a 5.96 percent - or $4.88 million - increase over the current spending plan.
The average homeowner in District 13, whose house has a fair market value of $417,000, would see a decrease of $205 on the high school portion of his or her tax bill. The average District 24 homeowner, with a house valued at $398,000, would see a $125 increase, and the average District 30 homeowner, with a house valued at $375,000, would see a $274 increase.
According to Superintendent Dr. Marc Bernstein, the proposed budget focuses on maintaining the academic programs already in place. "It is our obligation to prepare our children for the 21st century, and this budget does that," said Bernstein.
Besides mandated and contractual costs, the budget includes a few educational initiatives that would carry a price tag of about $1.1 million. The district has budgeted $312,000 for the creation of five new teaching positions to balance class size and expand the science research program. A position would also be created to supervise the chairperson of Languages Other than English.
The district plans to phase in a new science research program over the next two years to introduce students to laboratory science and research. A new science research strand has been proposed for students in eighth-grade accelerated life sciences to build a bridge between seventh- grade science research students and ninth-grade students taking the new introduction to science research course. And $250,000 has been budgeted to purchase textbooks.
About $600,000 has been allocated for capital projects at the district's four schools. The driveway at North will be resurfaced, the roof over the girls' gymnasium at Central will be replaced, masonry work will be done on the exterior of South, and upgrades will be made to audio systems at schools throughout the district, according to Deputy Superintendent Al Chase.
District 13
Though the average homeowner, with a house valued at $417,000, will see a $187 increase on the elementary portion of his or her tax bills, when combined with the Central High School District, that same homeowner will see an $18 decrease, according to figures provided by the district.
District 13's $36.27 million budget proposal calls for a 6.5 percent, or $2.21 million, expenditure increase for 2006-07. "We are very cognizant of the money we are spending, that it comes from all of you, and we are trying to give you the biggest bang for your buck that we can," Meredith Brosnan, assistant superintendent for business, told the dozen or so residents gathered at the James A. Dever School May 3.
The proposal includes three new teaching positions: a full-time math specialist to work with struggling students and take part in staff development, a technology specialist who, according to Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lison, would act as a "tool kit," handling computer maintenance, and a full-time speech teacher expanded from part-time. A part-time custodian will also be added at the Howell Road School.
Several capital projects are included in the budget. With voter approval, the district is planning a partial roof replacement at Dever and new tile flooring in the music room at the Wheeler Avenue School, at a combined cost of $111,000. Also, Phase II of the three-phase project to renovate the Howell Road School parking lot, at a cost of $210,000, is being planned.
District 24
District 24 Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale and Assistant Superintendent for Business Dan Onorato told the handful of residents gathered at last Thursday's budget hearing that the 2006-07 proposal represents the lowest budget-to-budget increase in eight years.
In fact, the average District 24 homeowner, with a house valued at $398,000, would actually see a decrease of about $26 on the elementary portion of his or her school tax bill.
The $23.2 million proposal is $1.1 million, or 4.98 percent, higher than the current budget. More than $900,000 of the total increase can be attributed to contractual and mandated costs. "We wanted to keep fiscal awareness by having the lowest possible increase and yet maintaining the programs and level of excellence that are special to Valley Stream 24," Fale said.
New initiatives include participation in the central registration program that already exists in the Central High School District and District 13. The intent of a central registration program is to keep out-of-district students from attending Valley Stream schools. A speech pathologist would also be added to assist with a language-based kindergarten section.
Capital improvements include the continuation of roof repair projects at Robert W. Carbonaro and William L. Buck.
District 24 has seen a decrease in enrollment that could result in decreased sections, a modification of the inclusion model and a reduced need for classroom and office aide services.
District 30
District 30 is proposing a $26.09 million budget, 6.42 percent more than the current $24.52 million budget package.
In addition to increases in mandated and contractual costs, the district is still repaying two bonds approved by voters in 1998 and 2001 to expand the Clear Stream Avenue School and for improvements at Forest Road and Shaw Avenue schools.
In making the budget presentation May 2, District 30 Superintendent Lawrence McGoldrick asked the audience to "vote your conscience and your ability to pay," adding that he believed the proposed budget maintains a well-balanced education for the district's children at the lowest possible cost.
"The budget took a long time to put together, and was done in a conscientious fashion," said McGoldrick. "I think it's the best we can do for our kids."
The average District 30 homeowner, with a house valued at $375,000, would see a $63 increase in the elementary portion of his or her tax bill.
New educational initiatives in the proposal include $50,000 for new history reading materials for the district's third- and fourth-graders and $20,000 for the Saturday Academy, a program designed to help students improve their reading, writing and listening skills for the state's English Language Arts exam. The district would also allocate $50,000 to hire an internal auditor, as recently mandated by the state.
Replacement of the electrical infrastructure at Clear Stream Avenue School is also included in the budget proposal.
How to determine what you'll pay:
Last year the county changed the way it determined assessed value, making it one half of 1 percent of a home's fair market value. A house worth $400,000 had an assessed value of $2,000.
This year the county made yet another change. A home's assessed value is now one quarter of 1 percent of its fair market value. A house worth $400,000 now has an assessed value of $1,000.
Here's how to figure what your school tax bill will be under the 2006-07 school budgets:
1) Visit www.mynassauproperty.com. Click on the "property search" button and enter your address. Your home's assessed value will appear under the heading "School ('06-07) and County/Town '07." If you don't have Internet access, you can multiply your home's fair market value by .0025 to determine its assessed value. For instance, $400,000 x .0025 = $1,000.
2) Divide your home's assessed value by 100. For example, $1,000/100 = 10.
3) Multiply that number by the tax rate provided by your school district, subtract any exemptions you are entitled to, and that's roughly what you can expect to pay in school taxes. Remember, each household pays taxes to one of the community's three elementary districts as well as the Central High School District. In District 13, the combined tax rate is $579.21. In District 24, the combined tax rate is $515.47. And in District 30, the combined tax rate is $480.10.
Anne Marie Allocca contributed to this story. Comments about it? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
