More flexibility with reserve funds?

 
After his review of all schools districts and BOCES in New York, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli cited several districts for having excess funds in its Employee Benefit Accrued Liability funds. Although there is no legal limit as to how much money districts can have in this account, DiNapoli said many districts had more money than would be reasonably needed in the coming years.
   
The EBALR fund is used to pay teachers and staff for unused leave time, such as sick and vacation days, when they leave the district. Once money goes in to the fund, it can only come out for that purpose.
   

DiNapoli wants districts to use this excess money to benefit taxpayers. However, legislation is required for districts to be able to transfer money out of an EBALR account to its operating budget. He is proposing that the state Legislature adopt this change.
   
Louis DeAngelo, East Meadow's superintendent of schools, explained why he would be in favor of such legislation.
       
"Any legislative change which would provide additional options for lowering the tax levy for our residents would be welcomed," he said.
        
According to the district, East Meadow about $10 million within its EBALR account, which are currently required to be set aside to fund future retires' benefits.
   
"If districts had the latitude to free up some of these funds in the meantime — while still being prudent in their planning — taxpayers would ultimately benefit,"  DeAngelo said. "It would provide us with another avenue to lower the tax levy for our residents by enabling us to apply additional restricted reserves to our operating budget."
   
The East Meadow Board of Education was scheduled discuss the proposed budget for next year at a work session on Thursday night. Members of the public are invited to address concerns and questions at a budget input forum on March 4 at 8 p.m. at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center, 718 The Plain Road, Salisbury.

Andrew Hackmack contributed to this story.