Herald Community Newspapers
On Tuesday, East Meadow residents will vote to approve or reject the school district's $157 million 2007-08 budget, an increase of 5.4 percent, or $8 million, over the current spending plan. It includes an increase in the tax levy - the portion of the budget funded by property taxes - of only 3.9 percent, which means a school tax increase of $178 for the average homeowner. The Herald emphatically endorses the budget and urges residents to pass it.
Thanks to $32 million in state aid and the district's rainy day funds, this is one of the smallest tax levy increases in recent history, well below the Long Island average of 4.7 percent.
In addition, the proposal is a "no growth" budget, which means that for the second year in a row the district has opted not to add new programs or staff, other than replacement personnel. The budget maintains class sizes within district guidelines, provides for remedial and academic intervention services as well as professional staff development. It preserves current instructional and co-curricular programs from kindergarten through 12th grade, including Advanced Placement programs, music performance, science research, varsity athletic programs, secondary summer school, the elementary summer learning program, and upgraded data network and Internet facilities.
If the district fails to pass the budget, it will be left with three options: to put the same budget up for a second vote, to offer voters a reduced budget, or to adopt a contingency budget. Under contingency, according to state law, the increase in district expenditures would be capped at 4 percent. The resulting tax levy increase would be nearly $6 million, but the district would be required to cut $2.3 million from the current budget proposal, which would mean a loss of teachers and student services.
The community must stand by its Board of Education, which has developed a budget that is fair and does not break the banks of East Meadow homeowners. All it needs now is your support.
