Wantagh Schools Head Responds After Jump In Fiscal Stress Score

WANTAGH, NY — The head of Wantagh's public school system said his district remains "fiscally strong" following a state watchdog report that identified the district as seeing a "substantial" increase in fiscal stress.

Thomas DiNapoli, the state comptroller, released his annual report Thursday. Across New York, 33 districts were found to be in fiscal stress for the school year ending in 2019, according to DiNapoli's monitoring system. The system looks at six financial indicators to come up with an overall stress score of "significant," "moderate," "susceptible" or "no designation." The goal is to assess each district's budgetary solvency by looking at fund balance levels, operating deficits, cash-on-hand and reliance on short-term borrowing. Each school district's score is based on self-reported financial data.

The Wantagh Union Free School District was among 11 that saw significant increases in their stress scores, the report found. The district jumped from having a "no designation" label in 2017-18 all the way up to having a "moderate" fiscal stress label in 2018-19.

Wantagh Union Free School District

School year 2017-18

• Designation: none.
• Score: 6.7

School year 2018-19

• Designation: Moderate fiscal stress
• Fiscal stress score: 55.0
• Environmental stress score: 0

In a statement to Patch on Friday, John McNamara, the superintendent, said the district knew it was likely Wantagh would see a change in its fiscal status. He called the change temporary, though, and said his district remains fiscally sound.

"An audit by the comptroller's office for the period from 2014 to 2016 resulted in a recommendation for the district to reduce its appropriated fund balance," McNamara said. "The district put into place a targeted financial plan, which over time, continues to significantly reduce the appropriated fund balance and thus a temporary change in financial standing according to the fiscal stress metrics. The district was well aware of the probable shift that would occur as we worked to tighten the budget and we remain fiscally strong throughout this process."

The comptroller's report also looked at environmental stress indicators that account for other factors outside the district's control that can hinder efforts to raise local revenues needed to fund important programs. These factors include things like poverty rates and tax base.

In that area, Wantagh received a zero, the lowest possible score.

The monitoring system covers 674 school districts across 57 counties. New York City schools are excluded from the analysis, as are the city school districts of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.

School districts labeled as facing "significant" financial stress include Fort Edward, Norwich, Northern Adirondack and Wyandanch. Others facing "moderate" stress include Cortland, Eldred, Hempstead and New Suffolk.

"Some of New York’s school districts are in fiscal trouble," DiNapoli said. "While there are a number of factors causing their fiscal stress, each district should address these problems today."

The system flags issues early so district officials can correct them.