Babylon Adopts 2012-2013 Budget

The proposed 2012-2013 budget for Babylon schools was presented and unanimously adopted by the Board of Education Monday night, in a crowded Rowe Hall meeting.

The budget, the final product after months of presentations and negotiations, was somewhat of a lucky break for the school: due to several teacher retirements and the end of Babylon's bond reduction obligations, the budget maintains all current programming and avoids any instructional layoffs while keeping the tax levy increase to a modest 1.39%.

The average taxpayer burden, based on a property assessment of $4,300 will be $9.56 more per month. Stephen M. Bilyk, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business, framed the budget breakdown by noting that "we are in a new budget environment," because of concerns over the tax cap. Increases in retirement and health insurance costs were a large portion of the new expenses for the coming year, explained Bilyk.

Interim Superintendent Peter Daly and Bilyk both stressed that although the budget was tight, they not only prioritized maintaining all current programming but allowed for several program enhancements, including upgrading technology and computer labs in the elementary and grade schools, and enhanced English and science programs for the junior high grades.

Transportation costs were up 1.68% over last year; BOCES costs were up 3.5% partly because of a plan to install SMART boards and other new technology in BOCES classrooms; and employee benefits required an additional $539,548 over the 2011-2012 school year.

A retiring Babylon Memorial Grade School librarian will not be replaced, and instead the duties dispersed among classroom teachers, which concerned some parents in attendance, who questioned if the already busy teachers could assume the specialized teaching of a school librarian. Board member Alena Barenblatt responded that this was a concern of the board as well, and they would closely monitor the situation and if needed, consider hiring a new librarian.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Monday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. and the vote on the budget and trustee election will be on Tuesday, May 15, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Babylon Memorial Grade School.