Schools

BOE Adopts $162 Million Budget; Discusses Service Restoration

New proposed budget represents a 1.86 percent increase over the current budget with a tax levy hike just under the new state cap.

The Patchogue-Medford Board of Education unanimously adopted a proposed $162 million budget at Monday’s Board of Education budget workshop at  for the 2012-2013 school year.

The proposed budget will be a 1.86 percent increase over the 2011-12 budget with an overall tax levy increase of around $1.9 million or 1.99 percent.

The budget fits within the state-imposed two-percent tax cap, which in part resulted in the of eight teaching positions for the next school year. This will be on top of 56 positions lost due to the cap the previous year.

A discussion about attempting to restore services erupted during the meeting while discussing the district’s fund balance.

Trustees Brett Houdek and William Lavelle pushed for some of the balance to be used toward restoring programs that were lost due to cuts. However, Donna Jones, assistant superintendent of business, said that doing so from fund balance would be unsustainable for the district.

“It creates a hole in the subsequent year,” Jones said. “In calculating out the four year financial plan, every year significantly impacts the subsequent year.”

Jones also said that the district is still in a deficit financial situation.

Lavelle said that the district should reap the benefit for being financially prudent.

After a brief executive session, Jones said that she would be able to find $500,000 that would come from state aid that could be used for program restoration.

Superintendent Michael Locantore said that he will meet with administration to determine what they will be able to restore with that money.

Trustee Donald Atkins suggested restoring library services that had been previously cut, while trustee Joseph LoSchiavo suggested restoring that were cut in previous years.

The next open session Board of Education Business meeting is scheduled for April 16 at South Ocean Middle School at 7:30 p.m. The vote for the budget and for open trustee seats will take place on May 15.


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