Merrick, N. Merrick, Central school budgets on the ballot

School budgets are up for a vote in Merrick, North Merrick and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School districts on May 21. Here’s a breakdown of the budgets:

Merrick

The 2013-14 Merrick School District budget will, if approved by the community in a vote on Tuesday, increase funding for special education programs and schools, new equipment and furniture, transportation, classroom supplies, upkeep of facilities, alarm and security systems, and employees’ salaries and benefits.

If adopted, the budget would make Merrick among the few districts across the area that are not facing program or staff cuts at a time when state aid has remained level or declined in many districts and a state property-tax levy cap is limiting districts’ ability to raise revenue.

“The budget we put forth will keep in play all the services for children we have right now. We’ll keep our technology up to speed and our buildings in good shape,” said Merrick Superintendent Dominick Palma.

The proposed budget’s total tax levy is $37.19 million, a 3.43 percent increase from last year. The increase is more than 2 percent largely due to raises in staff members’ pensions, which are exempt from the property-tax levy cap.

North Merrick

Next year’s North Merrick budget will, if approved, maintain level funding for much of the district’s programs and services, though it does contain cuts to some administrative functions to close the district’s $286,000 budget gap.

“All the current programs we have in the district will continue exactly as is … our class sizes, our programs in art and music,” said North Merrick Superintendent David Feller. “We’re very glad about that.”

The administrative cuts include a reduction of the fund balance left over from the previous fiscal year and reserves held to cover unexpected transportation and health care benefits costs. The district will also save $79,000 next school year due to a principal taking leave and being replaced by a lower-salaried interim principal and $14,000 by converting a vacant custodial position into a lower-paid cleaner position.