V.S. District 13 presents 2022-2023 year budget

With school budget season in full swing, Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 is proposing a spending plan totaling roughly $58.5 million for the 2022-23 school year.  Even as school districts inch closer to a post-pandemic normal, the district’s budgetary challenges reflect continuing inflation and market uncertainty.

Nonetheless, district officials say the spending proposal maintains all student programs and services and expands others, while remaining fiscally sound and taking into account the financial strains on district families.

The proposed tax levy of roughly $38.6 million is 1.5 percent larger than the total taxes in this year’s budget, an increase that is well below the district’s 3.47 percent tax cap. Spending will rise by around $3 million, or 5.44 percent, most of which will fund contractually obligated salary increases and benefits for teachers and other school employees, and rising transportation and health insurance costs.

“There are some important increases in volatility in some high-cost areas,” district Superintendent Dr. Judith LaRocca said. “We have existing contracts with collective bargaining groups, and that requires us to increase the budget. Health insurance rates have continued to be very volatile. There is a projected 15 percent increase in health insurance rates.”

Student transportation has also become challenging as a result of the pandemic, LaRocca added. “There have been transportation companies that have gone out of business, higher costs for drivers due to minimum wage increases, and an increase in gas prices,” she said.

The superintendent further explained that the 2021-22 fiscal plan was underbudgeted for special education services by about $500,000 “given the high needs for in-district and out-of-district placement for our special-education students.”

The district will receive an additional $2 million in state aid next school year, for a total of $16.1 million, which officials say will help offset higher expenses. No budgetary cuts will be made to school programs and services. Instead, the spending plan includes:

• New speech and special-education teachers
• New supplies and materials for innovation labs
• A K-through-6 computer programming curriculum
• Teacher and student learning device upgrades
• Parent Square software, with which parents can communicate with staff and building administration
• Upgrades to the social studies and math curriculums

As well, $100,000 is earmarked for a capital outlay project involving floor tile abatement and replacement at the Howell Road School. Capital outlay projects are smaller maintenance and facility-improvement projects that do not exceed $100,000 and are eligible for state aid. There are also plans to use $300,000 in capital funds to upgrade the children’s play and learning spaces at all four schools.

Thanks to the federal American Rescue Plan funds received by the district and other grant funds, officials say, the district will have access to additional school psychologist and behavioral consultant services, as well as a mental health consultant, for the 2022-23 school year at no cost to taxpayers.

The school budget vote is May 17.

Have an opinion on district 13's 2022-2023 budget? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.