Mattituck High School Supe: 'Yes Governor, We Can Cover State Aid Cuts'

Despite New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed cut in state aid of $285,000 to the t, district Superintendent James McKenna said at a Tuesday night budget hearing that the district is covered.

McKenna guided members of the school board and about 30 audience members through his proposed $37.5 million budget for 2011-12 Tuesday night. The budget includes a 2.66 percent  spending increase, a 2.59 percent tax levy increase and a 2.53 percent estimated tax rate increase — the lowest submitted for voter approval in 37 years, McKenna said. The tax rate on a $600,000 house assessed at $6,300 in Southold Town in the proposed budget would be $126 per year.

"This budget is sustainable over a number of years," McKenna said.

With enrollment shrinking in the district and a state-proposed 2 percent tax levy cap, McKenna proposed several cuts for the district. Proposed staff cuts, which McKenna said will save the district $500,000, include a high school science teacher, a music and art teacher at and five more teaching positions at the elementary school. Four teaching assistants are also on the proposed layoff list.

McKenna added that he also hopes to save about $50,000 in cutbacks to district-wide library and health services and summer cleaning services at the elementary school.

Sports programs in the junior high school will be reduced from two to one under the proposed budget.

"We can no longer sustain two junior high school sports teams," the superintendent said. "We felt like this was something that we had to do."

If a contingent budget is adopted, McKenna said that all non-emergency equipment and capital improvements will have to be cut, resulting in $275,000 in cuts.

The next Mattituck-Cutchogue School District budget hearing is scheduled for March 24.