Get involved with your school budget process

We are entering one of the most interesting times of the year: budget season.
Many school districts in Nassau County will unveil their budgets this month. Some have already begun the budgeting process. That means that now is the time for you to get involved.

Each year, school districts hold public meetings at which officials explain all of the expenditures in their budgets — and most of these meetings are attended by a disappointingly small number of district residents.

The spending plans that superintendents are presenting to their Boards of Education — and to the public — are not yet set in stone. This is the time when members of the public can still make contributions to the process.

School districts welcome public comments. It makes administrators’ jobs easier when they receive feedback from residents at school board meetings instead of angry letters after a budget is passed.

At these meetings, people have the opportunity to examine the budget and make suggestions. Perhaps you have some great money-saving idea that you’ve always wanted the school district to implement. Now is the time to let administrators know. Budgets can be modified until the school boards vote to accept them, usually in March or April.

Members of the public should — must — be involved in the budget process because the money being budgeted is, for the most part, coming from the district’s home and business owners. If you don’t feel knowledgeable enough to have a say in how your money is being spent, you should attend the budgeting session to gain that understanding. The more you know, the more likely it is you’ll want to weigh in — especially if you have children in the district’s schools — and that’s what brings the process to life.

This year, with the economy still recovering and news of funding shortages everywhere we look, budget-related comments from the public are crucially important. Schools are preparing to take heavy hits from all sides. Their required contributions to retirement systems and health insurance are increasing. Governor Cuomo has proposed major cuts in state aid to schools.

The county will be implementing a new sewer tax. And with a possible 2 percent tax cap coming next year, along with the tax certioraris the districts are going to have to pay starting next year, things are looking grim.

Some schools are considering laying off teachers, and some are offering early-retirement packages. Either way, many districts will likely be operating with smaller staffs next year. What caring parents wouldn’t want to know how that will affect their children?

There’s plenty of time for you to get involved. Districts have meetings coming up at which you can let your voice be heard. Not only is it your civic duty to do so, but this is one of the only forums in which what you say really matters. Town, county, state and federal governments all pass budgets without direct input from the people. But on the school level, your voice is important. You can actually affect what goes into the budget.

Identify potential problems before it’s too late, and do your part to nip them in the bud. State your opinion on where to place the fulcrum between a budget’s two sides, expenses and revenue, or between spending and property taxes and state income taxes. Affirm those parts of the budget proposal that you think are best for children’s education and still affordable for the community.

The budget votes will be held on May 17. Make sure your voice is heard before then.