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Overcast Baldwin school board adopts 2010-11 budget
Spending to rise 2.2 percent, tax levy less than one percent
The Baldwin Board of Education unanimously adopted its 2010-11 proposed district budget on April 14.
The $116.52 million spending plan reflects a 2.2 percent increase in total expenditure from the current year budget and an increase of .85 percent in the property tax levy. The tax levy increase is Baldwin's lowest in seven years.
“Clearly this is a budget that tries to meet the demands of a time when expenses are difficult,” said Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business George Chesterton, adding that some of the district's revenues will decrease next year. “Fortunately, the district was conservative in planning for this coming year.”
New York state-mandated increases in school districts’ contributions to teacher and employee retirement systems and an expected decrease in state aid next year had threatened to drive up school taxes and/or the slashing of programs and teaching staff across Long Island.
To avoid doing that in Baldwin, the board planned to cut late buses at the high school and up the class size limits at the elementary schools. But there was strong community opposition to that plan at a March 16 school board meeting. At the same time, the board was also exploring whether it could eliminate class sections without impacting district programs. So on March 24, the board put off its vote on adopting the budget and returned with a new plan on April 14, one that reduced district personnel — teaching, custodial and clerical staff — through attrition, and utilized reserve funds to offset the state-mandated increases.
Board President Mary Jo O'Hagan explained that the district will require fewer teachers next year because decreasing student enrollment at the elementary schools over the past few years has allowed the district to responsibly eliminate some class sections. Some high school classes, which have not been filling to capacity, were also cut. O'Hagan said she expects that all programs and courses will continue to run smoothly next year.
“We are very comfortable at this point that the budget the board adopted presents the community with the smallest increases in many years while retaining the current program,” O'Hagan said.
The school board will hold its annual District Meeting and Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 4 at 8 p.m. at the Baldwin District Office. The budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 18.
