Update: School Budget Features Hard-Fought 2.45% Tax Levy

The Lindenhurst Board of Education adopted a $141.7 million 2012-13 budget, representing a 1.07 percent year-over-year expenditure increase, and an associated 2.45* percent tax-levy increase at the April 18 .

The approved levy was also less than the 3.55 percent cap the district was allowed by law – after it plugged its numbers into New York state’s fluctuating tax-cap formula.

The also takes into account the $2.4 million in the district is receiving.

However, to achieve adoption late on Wednesday night, BOE members battled with dueling proposals involving the use of various amounts of the $4.2 million currently in reserves to ensure the levy was less than the 3.01 percent point trustees reached after trimming an additional $407,750 from the budget.

(See below for the breakdown of proposed cuts and what was passed and defeated. To read about the previous cuts made on , click . For more information about the now adopted budget, click and , see the accompanying PDF and take the polls about it and .)

Reserve or Not to Reserve?
It began with BOE Member Julie Bartolomeo proposing to use $925,000 in reserves to bring the levy to 1.95 percent.

Her motion sparked a discussion among fellow board members, and Assistant Superintendent of Business Jackie Scrio about whether or not any reserves should be used, and if so, exactly how much.

It also drew comments from residents, including , and who seemed to be in favor of using reserves to reduce the tax levy, and and , who seemed to be against the idea of using reserves since about half have already been used in the last several years in the face of lost state aid and preserving program.

Some board members also favored using a significant amount of reserves to reduce the tax levy to provide even greater than 3.01 percent.

“That number would be a tough sell to residents, especially when they heard the tax cap was two percent. And the budget could fail,” Trustee Val McKenna cautioned.

“I personally believe the 3.01 percent is way too high, and I urge the board to lower it,” Nathan said.

“Personally I wouldn’t support a 3.01 percent increase. That’s on top of the we (residents) are shouldering from ,” Kalish said.

Others, like BOE president Ed Murphy, Jr., weren’t in favor of using them for fear it might negatively affect the district’s bond rating and ability to borrow, as Scrio pointed out.

“As one of nine I don’t support taking reserves because it could put us in jeopardy four or five years down the line,” Murphy said, referencing the length of time for which the NYS tax cap is in effect.

Scrio also cautioned against using reserves to ensure money is available for eventual necessary capital projects such as new and roofs.

The board even recessed into executive session for roughly 15 minutes before returning to the public forum and continuing with a long string of amended motions by various members.

Bartolomeo, McKenna, and proposed and/or supported motions to use various amounts of reserves to reduce the tax levy to less than or at approximately two percent.

Murphy and Ed Langone and Ray Doran proposed and/or supported motions to bring the tax levy closer to 2.5 percent or just less than that.

Trustee Robert Vitiello even made a motion to reduce full-day kindergarten to half-day at a savings of $1.4 million (13 teachers) to bring the tax levy to 1.4 percent without using any reserves, but it was defeated.

Ultimately a motion to use approximately $489,000 ($488,982)* in reserves to reduce the tax levy to 2.45* percent was passed, and the budget was adopted.

Expenditure Cut Breakdown
The proposed cuts passed and defeated at the latest break down this way:

• Legal Services and Negotiations (Passed): Reducing $440,000 legal budget code by $40,000.
• Building Budgets (Passed): Reducing cost per students for elementary and secondary levels, kindergarten and AIS for a total savings of $45,170.
• Health Insurance (Passed): Reducing health insurance budget code by $210,000.
• Energy Performance Contract (Passed): Refinancing for a savings of $17,380.
• Transportation Gas (Passed): Reducing budget code by $20,000.
• LHS Varsity Golf (Defeated): Cutting team for a savings of $10,259.
• LMS Boys and Girls Tennis Teams (Defeated): Cutting both teams for a savings of $15, 072.
• Rentals for LHS Graduation (Passed): Reducing $5,000 budget code by $3,000.
• Telephone Bill (Passed): Reducing $43,200 budget code by $8,200.
• Elevator Service (Passed): Reducing budget code by $4,000.
• Transportation Late Runs (Two) (Defeated): Cutting for a savings of $18,250.
• Home Teaching (Two Codes) (Passed): Reducing both budget codes for a savings of $50,000.
• Recycling Costs (Passed): Reducing budget code by $5,000.
• Inspection Services (and Architect Fees) (Passed): Reducing budget code by $5,000.

The BOE will meet again for its regular  meeting on April 24 at the LMS at 8 p.m.

The superintendent will present this budget at the  Meet the Candidate  on April 25 at  at 7:30 p.m. There, residents will be able to hear what the  who're running unopposed for re-election to the school board have to say.

Residents will be able to  on the budget and the candidates on , .

(Update: *These numbers have been updated based on confirmation from the superintendent. The previous number, 2.44 percent, was incorrect. Apologies for any confusion this might've caused.)

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