By MIKE CAPUTO
Merging what County Executive Tom Suozzi calls "back office" services in the school system could lead to at least $5 million in savings, he said. The plan was devised by a committee comprising school board members, BOCES administrators, superintendents, elected officials and county staff members.
"Property taxes are of course a major problem we face here on Long Island, and school taxes are a large part of the property taxes we pay," Suozzi said at a recent press conference in Mineola. "For years, [elected officials] tried to stay out of the school property tax business. I think we all realized that it has become such an overwhelming burden that we need to work together with our school districts to try and address this very, very real problem."
In the context of school district and government spending, the county executive noted that savings for this particular initiative would not be massive, but would set the tone for "long-term savings."
The committee is recommending consolidation and collaboration measures in several departments, including "NassauNet," a countywide telecommunication and I.T. network that would utilize the county's existing infrastructure, and "Just in Time," an initiative that would create a countywide purchasing program for school districts. Similarly, the committee recommended an out-of-district transportation cooperative that would allow for a single contract.
For capital projects, delays could be eliminated by granting Nassau BOCES the authority to approve school district construction plans costing $1.5 million or less, which would normally have to be approved through the State Education Department.
School districts would also be encouraged to utilize the county for certain audit and legal services.
"We are optimistic that some of these recommendations have the potential for real savings," read a statement issued by the Baldwin School District. "As with all systematic change, however, more time will be needed to work out the details. It is anticipated that the committee will continue to meet to collect information from all the Nassau County school districts and investigate specific instances where changes would be beneficial. Thanks to County Executive Tom Suozzi, we now have a partner in advocating for the kinds of legislative and regulatory changes that previously have precluded the types of efficiencies recommended in this report."
The district did, however, theoretically endorse the county's recommendation that BOCES approve less expensive school construction projects rather than wait for the State Education Department's approval. The district completed several capital projects over the summer, and is nearly finished with all the capital projects laid out in a 2004 bond act.
Comptroller Howard Weitzman explained that school districts could save money by utilizing his office for required annual internal control reviews. "In discussions with school superintendents, it is clear that we can do that for all the districts, save them a ton of money and also come out with a better product because we would be able to compare all the best practices from all over the schools and put that together in a more comprehensive document," Weitzman said.
Ronald Friedman, president of the Nassau Council of Superintendents, provided a school administrative perspective. "This effort is truly unprecedented, and reflects our collective belief that high-quality education and sound business management should go hand in hand," Friedman said. "Just as we strive for educational excellence, every effort must be made to deliver educational services as efficiently as possible."
Senator Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington), who has worked closely with Suozzi on the state Committee on Local Government Efficiency, agreed that the collaboration between the governing bodies and organizations is an important aspect of the savings plan. "I think this is an important step in the direction of helping property taxpayers address the issue of rising property tax costs," Johnson said. "What is really great is you see the cooperation between the local government, state government and school boards to address this problem. What I think it shows is innovation and thinking outside of the box."
Suozzi said the committee would continue to meet and work on implementing these measures in the school districts.
Mike Russo contributed to this story. Comments about it? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
