Huntington Benefits from New
State Budget
The Huntington School District is breathing a collective sigh of relief after state legislators returned high tax aid to 2012/13 levels in the new state budget. Governor Andrew Cuomo had sought to slash these monies in his budget proposal, but ultimately signed off on their inclusion in the spending plan that legislators approved last week.
The additional state aid eliminates the need to make nearly $340,000 worth of cuts to school programs in Huntington. It will also allow the district to make a small reduction in the amount of fund balance that trustees will need to appropriate to hold down the tax rate.
Superintendent James W. Polansky reviewed the state budget highlights and the revenue the district expects to receive during the 2013/14 school year at a Huntington School Board meeting this past Monday night.
Mr. Polansky said the district is projecting a year-to-year increase of more than $751,000 in actual state aid. Much of this additional money is expense driven, meaning since the district will spend more money it will receive more funding from Albany.
The state budget approved by legislators will give Huntington $403, 933 more in aid than Mr. Cuomo's earlier proposal. Huntington now expects to receive $11,972,315 in aid from the state next year.
"Fortunately our state legislators have recognized the inequity in high tax aid distribution to Long Island School districts," Mr. Polansky said. "The increase in Huntington's share will, in fact, help us to address the challenges we have faced in constructing the 2013/14 budget."
Trustees have spent the past month reviewing the draft budget developed by district executives. The plan totals $114,707,235 or 2.55 percent more than the current year. It would increase the property tax levy by 2.83 percent, which is the district's limit under the state's property tax cap law. If approved by voters on May 21, the tax rate would increase by an estimated 3.52 percent.
The draft budget assumes that assessed property values in the district will continue to decline as a result of successful assessment challenges filed by residents. The working document projects a drop of $300,000 in assessed values, which translates into a loss of more than $625,000 in property taxes.
Should residents fail to approve a 2013/14 budget, the tax levy would be frozen and mandatory spending cuts totaling $2,723,464 would be required. The figure includes a reduction of $622,941 for equipment. Officials said that such large cut would impact course offerings, class sizes, extracurricular and athletic programs and a variety of other areas, including the use of school buildings and grounds by community organizations.
Mr. Polansky said the draft budget continues the district's cherished programs, including a full slate of Regents, honors and Advanced Placement courses, the college counseling center, science research and SEARCH programs, academic competitions, extracurricular clubs and more than five dozen sports teams spread across grades 7-12, along with a comprehensive special education program, transportation and cafeteria services, continued technology upgrades and new textbooks, workbooks and library books.
Trustees will adopt the 2013/14 budget during a public meeting on Monday, April 15 and hold a budget hearing on Monday, May 13. Both sessions are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Jack Abrams School auditorium. District residents will go to the polls to vote on the budget on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Huntington High School lobby.