State Aid Restoration Saves AP Computer Course, Teaching Positions

Restored state aid and an additional increase came as good news to the Kings Park School District who revealed the latest draft budget at Tuesday evening’s board of education meeting.

About $600,000 of state aid has been restored and the district received an increase of about $124,000, lessening the budget gap to $626,902 instead of the $2 million projected shortfall.

Under the latest draft, AP computer program will be restored. 6.6 positions are being restored and no teacher cuts will be made at the elementary level. The district plans on preserving programs and raising class sizes to meet the projected gap and reduce staffing by 6.4 positions.

Additional cost changes since the last budget draft in March include additional health insurance costs as a result of the newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The expected tax levy increase falls just below the state cap at 3.5 percent.

The district's final open budget workshop will be Saturday morning at 9 a.m. The adoption of the budget will be on April 16 at that evening's board meeting.