Lindy Residents Voice Frustration at Budget Presentation

On Lindenhurst residents had another chance to hear about the $141.7 million - which features an associated 2.45 percent tax-levy increase and represents a 1.07 percent year-over-year increase in expenditures - proposed for the 2012-13 school year.

And a few of those attending the Lindenhurst Board of Education weren't happy with what's being proposed.

They first listened as Superintendent Richard Nathan presented the BOE-approved budget up for vote on , .

This was one the many budget presentations to the community the superintendent does annually at various Lindy venues. (More information could be found on the district's website.)

Budget Breakdown
Much like the he made at the ' on , he broke down the budget, explaining the tax-levy increase was less than the 3.55 percent cap it was allowed by New York state law.

Cuts for 2012-13 to bring the tax levy down included eliminating World Languages, transforming and into after-school programs, excessing 15.6 instructional positions, eliminating three non-instructional positions and reducing a host of budget codes.

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, , 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.

In addition, the superintendent pointed out the district's lost upwards of $6.6 million in state aid between 2010 and 2012.

He also characterized the 2.45 percent tax-levy increase as amounting to $239 per year for the average homeowner with an assessed valuation of $5,000.

(See also the accompanying PDF file  for even more information about the now adopted budget. In addition, click , and  , and take the polls about it and .)

Residents React
Following the presentation residents had the chance to speak, and they didn't seem happy about the proposed budget - especially since it's on the heels of a tax-levy increase that a month prior to the NYS tax cap being passed in Albany last June.

They challenged the 1.07 percent budget-to-budget expenditures increase, as well as the proposed 2.45 percent tax levy this year.

One man got up and challenged the board and the superintendent on the numbers, pointing out that the constant tax increases are hurting people and deterring more families from coming to live here.

Another woman, , also spoke against the budget.

She accused the board of continuing "to spend money like it's water."

BOE President Ed Murphy, Jr. defended the budget, saying that many difficult cuts had been made and the district's lost a tremendous amount of state aid in recent years.

To that Swanton replied, "Then cut some more. We have to cut back, so do you."

She then asked about the status of the . Murphy said, "We continue to actively negotiate with our bargaining units."

Swanton wasn't happy with that answer either, saying it's "not the dancing and the football, it's the salaries and benefits that hurt us. Till that's taken care of we're in a lot of hot water."

These residents aren't alone in their frustration - many have spoken up at various budget workshops and BOE meetings this year, urging fiscal responsibility to the .

And according to the results of the latest two polls about the proposed budget on Lindenhurst Patch, they weren't happy with the 2.45 percent increase because it should've been less than the two-percent tax cap originally passed by NYS last year.

Another that they don't support the budget.

Budget Vote and BOE Election
However, the ultimate test of the 2012-13 budget will come on May 15 when voters will be able to for or against the budget and the three up for .

Polls will be open to voters that day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

include the elementary schools at , (replacing ), , and (replacing E.W. Bower).

Editor's Note: Don't forget to share your thoughts and concerns about this year's budget process for the with Lindenhurst Patch on the site in the comments section of articles about the topic, on Facebook and Twitter, by taking these polls and , and by e-mailing barbara.loehr@patch.com with an opinion piece.