By MIKE CAPUTO
That's because Campo is planning an extensive outreach schedule to promote and explain what he has described as the "most unique" budget he has helped mold in his 35 years as an East Meadow administrator.
"If the board will endorse the budget proposal, we can then get an early start to explain the budget and its contents to community groups, PTAs and staff," Campo said. "Everybody is anxious at this point."
As of press time on Tuesday, the proposal called for a spending plan totaling just over $175 million, a 2.2 percent increase over the current budget of $171.4 million. Officials project a 3.5 percent increase in the tax levy. The tax levy is usually not released by the county assessor until August.
The proposed budget has no staff reductions or layoffs, and preserves all educational programs. It does not reflect increases in costs such as utilities and supplies.
A 'creative' focus on revenue, spending
The economic downturn and an ambiguous outlook on district revenue has forced officials to take what Campo describes as "creative" measures when it comes to expenditures. In December, Gov. David Paterson's initial projections for state education aid included multi-million-dollar cuts to Long Island school districts, including East Meadow.
Since then, however, the state has been allotted billions in federal aid for education through the federal stimulus package. According to government statistics, the East Meadow school district is projected to receive $3 million, and last week Campo proposed devoting $1 million of that to reducing expenses. He said that $200,000 would restore funding not originally included for disability insurance, and another $200,000 would go to a dental insurance program. The remaining $600,000 would be allotted to health- and safety-related capital projects: the upgrade of the public address system at the W.T. Clarke High School and Middle School, and mandatory safety renovations at playgrounds and the high schools' tracks and tennis courts.
The other $2 million of federal stimulus money would be added to reserves earmarked for employee benefits and debt service, Campo said. It would help restore an unprecedented total of $14 million from the district's general fund and reserves that is being used to subsidize next year's proposed budget.
If the federal funds do not materialize, Campo said, district taxpayers need not panic. He explained that the district would continue with its plan to utilize reserves without "raiding the pantry," while keeping the tax levy below a 4 percent increase. "Even if revenues fall apart, then we will go to the reserves to keep the commitment to the taxpayers, to keep [the tax levy] at 3.5 percent," Campo said. "I'd rather not do that, but we can't keep the taxpayers wondering what is going to happen."
To adopt or not to adopt
In addition to re-launching the search for a new superintendent to replace Campo, a longtime administrator whose one-year interim contract is set to expire in June, the school board initially set April 2 as a date to adopt a budget. Campo said he hopes the board can adopt the spending plan as soon as possible so there is time to reach out to school and community organizations before the May 19 budget vote.
Board Vice President Walter Skinner said he supports the budget, but noted that it uses a significant amount of reserve funds that may be needed in future years. With contract negotiations in the next two years involving teachers, administrators and clerical and custodial staff, Skinner said, trustees will have to take a close look at all new contracts across the board.
For now, though, as districts across the state are contemplating layoffs and deep program cuts, East Meadow is standing pat. "Our goals are good - they keep everything in place for kids and no layoffs," Skinner said. "Now we have to get our superintendent in place."
Despite recent disagreements over the superintendent search, all six trustees have pledged their support for the three goals laid out by the administration: no layoffs, no program cuts and a reasonable tax burden for district residents. Trustee Steven Jacobs said slight modifications may be made if there is support from a majority of his colleagues. He would not specify what those modifications would be, but said he believed they could save $275,000.
"There are some minor modifications that I and perhaps others may want to make to the superintendent's proposed budget, but those modifications will not compromise the three [goals]," Jacobs said.
The Board of Education holds its next meeting, a public communications session, on March 26 at 8 p.m. at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center, 718 The Plain Road in Salisbury.
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
