Lindenhurst OKs 2012-13 School Budget

On the residents of Lindenhurst passed the proposed $141.7 million for the 2012-13 school year.

The passed by a wide margin of 547 votes, 1,836 in favor to 1,289 opposed - although the turnout was much lower than it was for last year’s vote.

It features an associated 2.45 percent tax-levy increase and a 1.07 percent year-over-year increase in expenditures.

After the Vote
Lindenhurst Schools Superintendent Richard Nathan, the administration and Board of Education members, as well as a host of parents, civic leaders and other residents gathered at the on for the annually scheduled meeting to hear the results.

They breathed a collective sigh of relief following the budget’s passage.

“We worked very hard on this budget, and it’s fiscally responsible while maintaining as much program as possible,” Nathan told Lindenhurst Patch. “We were able to maintain such programs as full-day kindergarten and a full sports program. We’ll be able to continue to be able to be the home of great schools.”

BOE President Ed Murphy, Jr. added he was thankful for the community’s generosity.

“I’m very pleased with the community, and once again it’s been very generous in its support of education in Lindenhurst,” he told Patch, adding the BOE continues its talks with all six of its bargaining units, including TAL (teachers’ union).

“We remain hopeful, and we continue to negotiate in good faith,” he said.

With regard to specifically, Murphy said, “We’re both exchanging ideas, but, unfortunately, we don’t think we’re where we need to be on this yet.”

He added the board was in talks with all six units and some talks are “closer than others.”

School Board Election Results
Lindy residents also re-elected all three incumbents on the ballot to the BOE.

That means current will begin her third, three-year term this July while Trustees and will begin their second, three-year term.

Hochman told Lindenhurst Patch she was happy she was re-elected, and said she was also happy the budget passed.

“It was a good compromise. It didn’t use many reserves, and we preserved a lot of program,” she said.

Ames echoed Hochman about the budget, noting her gratitude for being re-elected and to the community for viewing the budget as “fiscally responsible.”

“I’m happy to be serving another term, and I’m very proud of the community for passing the budget. We have to take care of ourselves,” Cunningham added. “It’s fiscally sound, and it balanced the needs of both sides - and it came in under our tax cap.”

Their terms for all three incumbents - who ran unopposed - will officially begin in July, during the annual reorganization meeting of the nine-person board.

Budget Essentials
Again, the $141.7 million for 2012-13 shows a 1.07 percent year-over-year increase in expenditures and features an associated 2.45 percent tax-levy increase.

That 2.45 percent tax-levy increase was less than the 3.55 percent the district was allowed under New York state law.

Cuts included eliminating World Languages, transforming and into after-school programs, reducing a host of budget codes and and three non-instructional positions - up from the nine teaching and two non-instructional positions.

The opted not to combine seventh- and eighth-grade sports, and keep such programs as Dance and JROTC, which have been on the chopping block in .

The voted against cutting full-day kindergarten to half-day at a savings of $1.4 million (13 ), which would've brought the tax levy down to 1.4 percent.

Instead, after much , the board voted to use $488,982 in reserves to reach a compromise at 2.45 percent at the April 18 where the budget was approved.

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