For schools, a ‘very difficult’ budget

Before presenting their proposed 2014-15 budget to the Board of Education at its April 8 meeting, Malverne school administrators offered a disclaimer that trying to stay under the tax levy cap proved “very, very difficult” in light of the fact that the district faces the lowest allowable tax levy increase in the last 15 years: just 2.06 percent, little more than half last year’s 3.66 percent.

The budgeting process has been so difficult, in fact, that the district will likely eliminate the equivalent of eight full-time teaching positions next year.

The spending plan totals $52.5 million, $1.26 million more than the current budget.

“Unfortunately, there are reductions in this budget that have to be made to stay under the tax cap levy,” Hunderfund said. “There’s nothing we can do. We’ve managed to reduce those reductions to the lowest possible amount based on the money that’s available.” Though the district is factoring $8.8 million in state aid for 2014-15 into its budget calculations, that is actually $4,480 less than it received this year.

Nearly 60 percent of spending next year will be directed to instruction, which includes teachers’ and principals’ salaries. According to Colaitis, however, administrators will have to make cutbacks in electives and other courses that are under-enrolled, some of which are in the business department, where a total of about 180 students receive instruction.

In spite of the potential elimination of teaching jobs, employee benefits will account for 35 percent of the proposed budget increase.

“We would like to increase our programs, increase our classes and maintain our level of effectiveness,” Colaitis said, “but the problem is when you’re facing natural constraints, you can’t do that anymore.”

He explained that $400,000 would be taken out of the district’s capital reserves to subsidize future projects. Over the next year, Colaitis said, that money will fund repairs on district buildings’ roofs and bathrooms, the addition of two school buses and the construction of a staff parking lot outside the Davison Avenue School.

The Board of Education will host a budget workshop, which will be open to the public, on May 13, a week before the final vote on May 20. “We’ve done the best we can, and we’re presenting a fair and balanced budget,” Colaitis said, “and we’d like people to come out and vote for it.”