Massapequa School District Holds Budget Hearing

The Massapequa School District heard the final discussion of the 2013-14 prior to next week's public vote on the $186 million spending plan.

The Board of Education held the annual school budget hearing Thursday at a meeting in the auditorium of Massapequa High School.

"It's actually the only hearing, that New York State requires us to have in connection with the budget," said Deputy Superintendent Alan Adcock.
"However Massapequa Schools started with budget workshop in February." 

Adcock once again told area  residents that the budget will include a 1.49 percent increase over the previous year's spending plan, and came in under the state tax cap.

He also outlined how the numbers break down in the categories of Administrative, instructional and capital spending, as required by the state.  

"Overall on the administrative line, there was a decrease of approximately $17,000. In the instructional component there was an increase of approximately $2.2 million and in the capital component, it was  an increase of $563,000," Adcock said.

But he added that the capital budget would show a $1 million decrease if it weren't for the inclusion of funds to cover  tex certiorari issues.

Nassau County has enacted a law to turn the responsibility for paying refunds for tax assessment errors over to school districts.

But the district has been fighting the law in court and schools may not have to pay.  The funds were added to the budget in case the sistrict does ultimately pay, according to Adcock.