Thursday, October 1, 2026
It’s safe to say that school districts across the state faced the perfect fiscal storm this year as they drafted their 2011-12 budgets. Governor Cuomo made draconian cuts to state education aid as he grappled with a $10 billion deficit, and he called on school officials to tap into reserve funds in order to shoulder some of the financial
burden.
Top that off with a slew of federal and state-mandated cost increases, and the challenge was obvious for school administrators aiming to devise spending plans that maintain educational programs and hold the line on taxes.
Long Beach was one of two school districts in Nassau County that proposed a budget with no increase in the tax levy. Its $118.6 million spending blueprint is $2.2 million larger than the current budget — an increase of just 1.86 percent — and sacrifices no programs. We believe it deserves the community’s support.
School officials were quick to follow Cuomo’s lead: The proposal calls for the use of $3.9 million in reserve funds to offset a cut of roughly $3.7 million in state education aid next year. The district has also made a number of spending cuts — a staff reduction based on multi-year enrollment trends, cuts to supplies and contractual expenses like professional development and services — to compensate for increases in those mandated costs, which include employees’ health insurance, pension contributions and collective bargaining agreements. In addition, $500,000 has been allocated for a reserve fund next year to cover tax certiorari liability. Overall, the budget continues a positive trend in the district — smaller tax levy increases each year in order to ease the burden on home-owners. Though the tax levy remains unchanged, an individual taxpayer may see an increase or decrease in the school tax bill as a result of many other variables. It’s understandably difficult to vote for something that could raise your taxes, but district officials have crafted a fiscally responsible proposal. This is a lean budget, befitting the difficult economic times, and the stakes are high on Tuesday. A rejection of the spending plan would mean the adoption of a contingency budget, which wouldn’t result in a significant reduction in taxes for the average homeowner and would likely increase class sizes, force cuts to foreign language, music, art, sports and support programs and close school facilities to community groups. A “yes” vote on the budget is crucial.
For school board, two solid incumbents
With two seats on the Board of Education being contested, the Herald urges residents to re-elect Dr. Dennis Ryan and Pat Gallagher. They are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and they have proved that they can work well with their fellow board trustees despite occasional differences of opinion.
When the football field proposed for the high school became a source of contention among many residents, Ryan, the board’s president, and Gallagher, its vice president, demonstrated an ability to work toward a compromise. And we believe that they will help the board maintain an even keel during a challenging time in the district, as a new superintendent is brought aboard and as the $92.7 million district-wide school preservation plan moves forward.
We were impressed with challenger Ari Pine’s enthusiasm, especially when he voiced his concerns about the district’s move to implement a heterogeneous class model in the seventh grade next year. Many students and parents criticized the district for what they described as an unchallenging program and a flawed curriculum. Pine focused attention on the issue, and it’s clear that his campaign made school officials and board members re-evaluate a significant change in classroom structure.
We encourage Pine’s continued involvement in school affairs, but Ryan and Gallagher remain our choices on Tuesday. They should be voters’ choices as well.
