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Light Rain Sewanhaka district unveils 2012-13 budget plans
The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education held its first 2012-13 budget workshop on Feb. 7, unveiling three spending scenarios and stressing that the budget will likely exceed the state-mandated 2 percent tax cap increase in order to avoid more than $3 million in cuts.
“[The state] passed on to us something that is extremely hard to fathom,” said board Trustee David Del Santo, “We’re going to have to make some difficult decisions, and I’m really not thrilled about it.”
According to the board, the best-case scenario for the Sewanhaka budget — which it won’t likely propose — would increase spending by 4 percent, to $168.7 million, and require a tax levy of $132.65 million — 4.6 percent larger than this year’s levy. According to Superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie, this plan would maintain all of the district’s academic programs and staff. Acknowledging that it might not be popular with taxpayers, however, the board offered three less-costly alternatives.
Under one plan, spending would total $167.8 million, the tax levy would increase by 3.9 percent and program and staff cuts would be possible. A second plan would cap total spending at $166.5 million, the tax levy would increase by 2.9 percent and there would be a greater likelihood of program and staff cuts. Because they, too, surpass the 2 percent tax cap increase, both plans would require approval by a super-majority — at least 60 percent — of voters in May. If the proposed budget isn’t passed by 60 percent of voters in May, the district will have to draft an amended budget for a new vote in July.
A third scenario presented by, though not popular among, the trustees would fall within the allowable tax levy increase, but would limit overall spending to less than $165.7 million, which, according to board President Jean Fichtl, would likely require severe cuts in programs and staff. It could be passed by a simple majority.
“If we want to keep our schools whole, and maintain the programs we have now, we may not be able to meet the 2 percent cap,” Fichtl said. “We don’t like to exceed the cap, but it looks like that’s the direction we’re heading.”
Nichole Huebner, a business teacher at the Floral Park Memorial and Sewanhaka high schools who attended the meeting, said it is difficult to imagine a well-functioning district staying within the allowable tax levy increase. “It’s really hard to see that [number],” Huebner said. “It’s really devastating. As a scared teacher, it’s something that concerns me.” She added that while she worried about possible cuts to teachers, she was more concerned about the elimination of academic programs, especially art and music.
“Of course I want the 3.9 percent [plan],” she said. “I know that I’ve got kids who don’t do well in math and social studies, and they look to the arts.”
Resident Cheryl Scarry told trustees that they should be out in public, at meetings, letting people know about what they could be voting on in May. Scarry also said that she believes the board should post online information about programs that could be cut.
Ferrie said that the board would be working diligently in the coming weeks to determine the best budget scenario to bring to voters, and how to cut with minimal damage. “We’re going to be looking at cutting from security, without losing safety, how we can look at our supplies, textbooks, co-curricular activities and capital projects,” he said, adding that while the board wants to inform the public about the dire budget situation, it doesn’t want to “create hysteria” now. The board will make its case to the public in the months ahead, he explained, after determining the best possible plan, most likely in March.
The spending plan’s mandated costs include a 5.3 percent increase in employee salaries, from $92.2 million to $97.1 million; a 7.1 percent increase in benefits, from $35.9 million to $38.5 million; an increase of more than 3 percent in Employee Retirement System costs; and a 12 percent increase in health care costs. The budget will also include reserves of $3 million to compensate for extra costs, in addition to $26.3 million in state aid — a $774,000-plus increase from the current budget.
“The district is appreciative regarding the increase in school aid, as this certainly has a positive impact on the budget development process,” Ferrie said. “Although this is an increase in aid, these additional funds have not restored the state aid levels to previous allocations that the district received in the past. The administration is examining the proposals regarding linking additional funding to improved academic performance and management efficiency … [and] working collaboratively with the teachers’ association regarding the development and implementation of an effective teacher-evaluation process.”
Capital projects for the 2012-13 school year are projected at $1.1 million, and include $40,000 to refinish New Hyde Park Memorial High School’s gym floor, $21,000 for concrete repairs at the school and $25,000 for the replacement of steam traps.
Del Santo urged residents — only about a dozen of whom attended the meeting — to follow the budget process and share their thoughts publicly in order to help educate others about the likelihood of a cap-exceeding budget, and to voice their opinions on the budget to their representatives in Albany. He added that throughout the budget process, residents should remember that there is a “symbiotic” relationship between property values and quality of education in the district.
“If you cherish your quality of education today, your voice needs to be heard,” Del Santo said. “I think it’s important for us to go out and pester our elected officials to get back to Albany and revisit the 2 percent cap.”
The district’s next budget meeting will be held on March 14.
Check back for updates to this story.
