By Nicole Falco
The cost to educate the more than 9,000 students enrolled in Valley Stream's 14 schools will increase to more than $137 million in 2003-04, up from more than $128 million this year.
"Conservative" is the word districts would most likely use when describing the budgets adopted by the respective boards of education. At first glance, this year's tax rates appear to be anything but conservative. However, it's important to keep in mind that things aren't always as they appear.
If a homeowner knows his tax rate and his home's assessed value, which is approximately 1 percent of the home's market value as determined during the county's recent reassessment, he can determine the impact education will have on his wallet next year. The formula is simple: divide the home's assessed value by 100 and multiply that number by the tax rate.
District officials have been reluctant to release this year's tax rates in budget literature sent to residents and at public hearings because they are concerned that the rate might be misinterpreted.
The tax rate has, in simplest terms, doubled because the assessed values of homes have, again in simplest terms, been halved as a result of the reassessments. However, taxpayers should note that the amount of money schools need to raise has not doubled; instead, it has essentially remained the same except for the modest budget-to-budget increases being proposed.
Central High School District
Like last year, the Central High School District expects an increase in enrollment. The district is facing a 3 percent increase, or an additional 127 students. Beyond mandated and contractual increases, the district is proposing additional money for a handful of new initiatives being proposed for 2003-04. They include the allocation of money for new band uniforms at North, South and Central high schools to replace decades-old uniforms; the expansion of the closed-lunch program to include eighth-graders as well as seventh-graders; the strengthening and expansion of academic-intervention services and the purchase of new textbooks.
The proposed high school district budget for 2003-2004 is $69.2 million, an increase of 6.5 percent, or $4.2 million, over the current budget.
Because of the recent reassessments, the assessed value of single-family homes has increased, while the assessed value of commercial property has decreased. The shift in property values has caused the tax burden to shift from commercial properties to single-family homes. This has also brought about a shift in the three elementary districts' portion of the high school tax bill. District 13 homeowners are paying a greater percentage of the high school tax bill than they did last year.
According to numbers provided by Al Chase, assistant superintendent for business, and Dr. Ronald D. Valenti, superintendent of the high school district, an average homeowner in District 13 will see a $637 increase in the high school portion of his tax bill next year, while an average District 24 homeowner will see an $89 decrease and in District 30, a $156 decrease. The increase in District 13 is in addition to any increase at the elementary level.
"We expect that that spike is only for one year," Chase said.
Valenti said it is most important to note that if the proposed budget were voted down twice, forcing the district to adopt a contingency budget that would include harsh program cuts, District 13 residents would still see a $536 increase in their high school district tax bills while districts 24 and 30 would see great decreases at the high school level.
District 13
District 13 has proposed a $28,801,621 budget for 2003-2004, an increase of $1,436,466, or 5.25 percent. The budget includes little if any changes except for increased transportation costs associated with the 25-minute increase in the school day it has planned for next year. Otherwise, the budget increase can basically be attributed to mandated and contractual costs.
According to Peg Daugherty, superintendent of District 13 schools, the average district homeowner will see a $199.52 increase in the elementary-school portion of his tax bill. That increase is based on a home assessed at $2,999 and a tax rate of $74.65 per $100 of assessed value.
Therefore, the average homeowner will pay a total increase of $836.52 for education at the elementary and high school levels.
District 24
In developing its 2003-2004 budget, District 24 sought to keep taxpayer impact at a minimum while maintaining the instructional programs students are used to receiving.
Programs including full-day kindergarten, Spanish, "Operation Success," and instrumental music will still be offered by the district.
"Our challenge became, 'How do we maintain these programs, then develop a budget that is fiscally sound?'" said Dr. Edward Fale, superintendent of District 24 schools.
To create a fiscally sound budget, the district did not introduce any new initiatives. However, money has been allocated for maintenance, including roof and window repairs at the schools.
The 2003-2004 budget is $18,472,232, an increase of $1,520,157, or 8.97 percent, over this year.
According to Fale and Dan Onorato, the district business official, the average homeowner will pay an additional $246 on the elementary portion of his tax bill. That increase is based on an average assessment of $2,800 and a tax rate of $76.70 per $100 of assessed value.
Because of the decrease in the high school portion of the tax bill, an average homeowner in District 24 will pay a total increase of $157 for education at the high school and elementary levels.
District 30
Despite having the largest budget increase of the three elementary districts, an average District 30 homeowner might only pay a total increase of $39 for education at the elementary and high school levels because of the estimated $156 decrease in the high school portion of the tax bill.
The district's proposed budget for 2003-2004 is 20,867,869, an increase of $1,969,295, or 10.42 percent. The average homeowner will pay an additional $195 in elementary school taxes, according to Lawrence McGoldrick, superintendent of District 30 schools. That increase is based on an average assessment of $2,725 and a tax rate of $58.35 per $100 of assessed value.
Don't forget to vote: The budget vote is Tuesday, June 3, and will take place at all 10 elementary schools as well as the Corona Avenue firehouse from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Districts 13 and 30; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in District 24. In addition, residents can vote for school board trustees. Joseph Conrad is running unopposed in District 24, as are William Gauger in District 30 and William Stris and Jeanne Greco Jacobs in District 13. District 13 has two contested elections. Anthony Lombardo is challenging Bunmi Ojugbele, and there is a three-way race among Dr. Marie Connelly, Debra Ann Evans and James DeFranco for the trustee position vacated by Valerie Clerico.
