Island Park schools projects tax levy $500k under limit

Marie Donnelly, the business official for the Island Park School District, announced on March 20 that the increase in the portion of the district’s projected 2017-18 budget paid for through property taxes — or tax levy — will be about half of the maximum limit allowed.

School officials estimated that the levy, which would make up roughly $32.5 million of the $39 million total projected budget, would increase by about $458,000, or 1.48 percent, which is nearly half of what it is allowed to collect under the New York state tax cap legislation.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Rosmarie Bovino attributed the low levy increase to three major factors. The first, she outlined, was due to the district’s bond referendum, which released funds held in the district’s capital expense reserve for use in major maintenance projects.

The second factor was the district’s focus on expanding existing programs instead of introducing new ones. “We don’t have all the new startup costs,” she noted.

The third factor involved the district’s smart schools grant — rewarded last May — that has helped fund school technology initiatives without the need to raise funds for them through the levy.

“We really try to keep the levy down,” she said, “and we’ve been consistent with doing that even before the cap.”

She noted, however, that the levy has little actual bearing on the school tax rate for properties in Island Park. “Last year, we had a negative tax levy increase,” she said. “Yet, we had homeowners and business owners whose tax rate went up.” She blamed Nassau County’s tax assessment system for the discrepancy.

The overall budget increased by more than $528,000 for additional expenses that would include the creation of an assistant superintendent position and the purchase of a new school bus. Donnelly noted that there would be no reductions in school programs and services.