Bellmore-Merrick Central District eyes 3.58% budget increase

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is looking at a 3.58 percent increase in its 2010-11 operating budget when compared to the current year, meaning expenditures would jump from roughly $122 million to $127.3 million.

If approved by taxpayers, that would translate to a tax levy increase of 3.78 percent. The tax levy is the total amount that the district must raise in property taxes in order to meet expenses. That does not mean homeowners’ property-tax bills will rise 3.78 percent. The district has yet to offer that figure.

Central District officials are looking to trim expenses next year in light of a possible state aid reduction of $2.2 million. The Board of Education recently announced that summer school would be eliminated in 2010, unless the district had at least part of its aid package restored.

District officials emphasized that nixing summer school was not yet a done deal. If more aid were to come through in the state’s final budget, it could be put back in place. “It’s not definite that we would get rid of summer school,” said Trustee Janet Goller.

Still, school officials said they are proceeding as if aid would not be restored –– and are making plans to cut summer school, encouraging students to work hard now to pass their courses to ensure they do not need it.

Also hit hard by budget cuts, if approved in the final tally, would be athletics. The district is looking to cut $100,000 from the sports budget next year, which would mean the possible elimination of several assistant coaching positions.

And the district may cut $86,000 from the buildings and grounds budget and $45,000 from the technology budget.

A fuller discussion of the Central District budget is expected at next Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.

Dance report

Richard Rozakis, the assistant superintendent for instruction, presented the Central District’s long-awaited report on the possible creation of a district dance program, after monies for BOCES’ School for the Performing Arts in Syosset were eliminated last spring.