By Nick Buglione
In an attempt to offset an estimated $11.5 billion deficit, Pataki plans to slash over $1.2 billion in state aid to schools across the board, including nearly $3.8 million to the East Meadow School District. That represents an almost 14 percent cut to the district's normally allotted state aid -- the fourth largest reduction among districts in Nassau County under Pataki's plan.
"As a state-aid-dependent district, you either make up for that with a huge increase in taxes or balance it with an increase in taxes and a reduction in expenses," said Leon Campo, East Meadow assistant superintendent of finance and administration.
Campo, however, was reluctant to offer any specific insight as to how this will impact the district in terms of a tax increase or possible cutbacks. Hard figures could be available by March or early April, he said.
"We feel that the proposed cuts are far too onerous. If enacted into law, the budget would place a tremendous burden on an already burdened East Meadow taxpayer," he said. "Right now, it's not good news for either the taxpayers or the kids. I don't want to put any specifics on it until we have a chance to make our case."
Nassau County superintendents were planning to meet at the Salisbury Center, headquarters of the East Meadow School District, on Friday, Feb. 14 to determine just how they are going to make their case for more state aid.
"We're disappointed. We know the state is in tough financial shape," Campo said. "We just didn't know how severe."
East Meadow faced a similar dilemma last year, when the 2002-2003 school budget was drafted. Citing shortfalls in state generated revenues, district officials called for a $5.9 million reduction in expenses that included an 8 percent cut to instructional and support staff. The cutbacks were coupled with a property tax hike of almost $7 per every $100 of assessed valuation.
The fiscal plan was met with staunch opposition in the community, as some charged that the administration's financial mismanagement of the district was to blame for the budget woes. Still, the 2002-2003 budget barely passed last May, by less than 100 votes, and went into affect on July 1.
Even as that budget was put into place, the administration and school board forecasted tougher financial times in the year to come. Things could be turning out, though, worse than they expected.
David Kaplan, chairman of the East Meadow Board of Education Business and Technology Committee, stressed that it's still too early to tell just how state aid will impact the 2003-2004 school budget.
"This proposal, if enacted into law, will have a significant impact on our schools and our taxpayers," said Kaplan. "East Meadow Schools, along with other school districts throughout New York State, will receive substantially less state aid next year as compared to the current year.
"The district is in the process of analyzing the specifics of the governor's proposal and is exploring options as to how best deal with the potential loss of 13.76 percent of the district's state aid."
Kaplan went on to note that the Business and Technology Committee will be holding the first of two public meetings on the 2003-2004 school budget development process on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Salisbury Center, 718 The Plain Road, at 7 p.m. The second is to be held on March 12.
According to Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell (R-East Williston), who said she plans to aggressively fight to get East Meadow more money, the amount of state aid offered in the governor's proposed budget are by no means set in stone.
"The numbers that have been proposed to the district are unacceptable," O'Connell said, urging that local residents write to the governor and other state officials to get this point across. "We need to work together at this point to make sure our voices are heard."
The assemblywoman is even bouncing around the idea of bringing local residents to Albany to testify in front of the Legislature on this matter.
"One of the benefits is we have a large delegation [in the Legislature] from Nassau and that's very helpful," O'Connell said. "We have been successful in the past and I don't see why we won't be this time."
She added that state elected officials have been successful in ensuring steady aid increases to East Meadow schools over the years, noting that they secured $16 million under the 1995-1996 budget, which grew to $28.7 million by 2002-2003.
Still, Campo countered that those increases aren't that considerable when taking into account how insurance costs and other expenses have skyrocketed over the years.
"A book used to cost $10 now it costs $80," Campo said. "The fact that they have given us more doesn't mean that that's put us ahead."
