Vote 'yes' on Baldwin School District, Baldwin Public Library budgets

While many Long Island school districts have been forced to make deep program cuts and lay off teachers to counter the recession and a loss of state aid, the Baldwin School District has emerged relatively unscathed.

By using district reserve funds to offset increases in state-mandated costs, and by reducing staff and course sections because of declining student enrollment, the school board managed to keep spending low. It has proposed a 2.2 percent increase in expenditures and a 0.85 percent increase in the property tax levy.

We commend the board's effort to continue to offer its students a solid education while being mindful of Baldwin taxpayers, who already foot nearly 70 percent of the district's bills. For these reasons, the Herald endorses the district's budget.

Over the past several weeks, there has been some confusion over which costs have been removed from the spending plan. The board will not raise the elementary school class size limit, nor will it cut late-running buses at Baldwin High School. These proposals were entertained when the board first received word that the state would increase the district's contribution to teachers' and employees' retirement systems. Because it did not know how much state aid Baldwin would receive, the board faced the possibility of either reducing programs and services or raising property taxes.

But around the same time the board was set to adopt the budget, it received more specific information from the state on what it would have to pay for retirement services. Once the board had that information, trustees realized they would able to dip into reserves and responsibly reduce district staff and course sections due to declining enrollment.

As of press time, the state still did not have a budget for next year, so the Baldwin board does not know exactly how much state aid the district will receive. Trustees have budgeted the amount proposed by the governor, which is typically the most conservative figure, but the board has no control over this unfortunate situation.

The Herald also supports the Baldwin Public Library budget, which increases expenditures and the property tax levy for the first time in three years. The .56 percent increase was dictated largely because of contractual obligations and the MTA tax.

The library is especially important during tough economic times, as many residents borrow books and movies and utilize services rather than pay for them somewhere else. The Baldwin library offers programs and activities for residents of all ages at all times of the day.

And though he is running unopposed, the

Herald urges residents to show their support for current library board Vice President Christopher Villanti.