Taxpayers getting bang for their buck

Wantagh taxpayers would have a little more money in their pockets. Wantagh students would have more opportunities to learn.

The Board of Education is close to finalizing a $76.2 million budget that would lower the tax levy by about $100,000 next year, resulting in a savings of $17 per year for the average homeowner.

“Your tax bill may not be that,” said Adriana Silver, the assistant superintendent for business. “It’s going to depend on your assessment.”

At the same time taxes would go down, programs would be increased. There are several new initiatives in the budget, many of which focus on technology.

The district will be expanding it’s elementary school STEAM program, for science, technology, engineering, art and math. STEAM labs have already been established in all three schools, and additional equipment would be purchased such as robotics kits and tablets. A dedicated teacher would also be hired to split time between the buildings.

All sixth-graders would receive a Chromebook to use during their three years of middle school, allowing teachers to do more technology-based lessons. A seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball team would be established, and the middle school would have two full-time psychologists by elevating a part-time position.

At the high school, several new courses would be added including Advanced Placement Capstone. This would be a two-year, research-based program that would be open to sophomores and juniors next year. Other new classes would include robotics, engineering and virtual enterprises, the latter a global business simulation.

Funding would be set aside to replace musical instruments at all levels, as well as several secondary-level textbooks, some of which date back to 1996.

While enrollment is expected to decline by 50 to 60 students next year, most of that loss will be at the secondary level. Superintendent Maureen Goldberg said a bigger kindergarten class is expected, and there will likely be a need for an extra section at Wantagh Elementary School.

Collectively, salaries are expected to rise 1.2 percent next year.

Since taxpayers are being asked for less money next year, the increases would be offset by an expected boost in state aid of about $844,000. Districts will no longer lose money through the gap elimination adjustment, which was created several years ago to help the state close its budget deficit.

With the GEA no longer a factor in determining a district’s state aid, Wantagh gets back about $1 million. Silver said after receiving clarification from the state, it is expected that this aid will be available to the district every year going forward. “Right now, the best information that we have is that it’s a permanent restoration,” she said. “It’s better than we thought. In future years, it helps us.”

Wantagh resident Jude Netto, who attended Monday’s fourth and final budget forum at the Wantagh Library, said it was hard to complain about a budget that would reduce taxes.

“I think the important thing here,” he said, “is we have a zero tax increase without impacting the program.”

Wantagh’s school board is expected to adopt the budget at its April 14 meeting. Voting will take place on May 17.