BOE Adopts $46M Spending Plan

The Babylon School Board of Education approved a $46,086,988 spending plan last night that projects a tax increase of 2.86 percent and an estimated average tax bill increase of $232 for homeowners.

The final budget proposition now boasts $2.7 million in fund balance, an increase of $500,000 from the previous revision and $700,000 from the initial budget plan. The board has also squashed a proposal to revamp transportation that would have saved the district about $275,000.

The spending plan offers the third lowest tax increase in 19 years, according to Deputy Superintendent Peter Daly, and the third lowest budget increase, 2.66 percent, in the same time frame.

The board also reinstated a small percentage of proposed staffing reductions. The cutbacks now include 3.9 FTE positions, down from 4.6 FTE jobs previously proposed. The board is still cutting eight assistant coaching positions as well as three tech support FTE jobs.

Two teachers currently on unpaid medical leave are extending their leave for the first half of the year and that represents a saving of nearly $80,000, according to district officials. The district also received $121,000 more in state aid once state lawmakers finalized the budget earlier this month.

As part of his budget presentation  Daly also reviewed the scenario of a contingency budget.

Should voters reject the budget on May 17, the board of education has three options: resubmit the same budget for a revote, submit a revised budget for a second vote or immediately implement a contingency budget that would cap the spending increases at 1.92 percent. To keep current programs and staff under a contingency budget would require an additional cut of $323,000.

“That would be difficult to do,” said Daly, adding that the board could also decide to add more fund balance to the budget.

Following the spending plan presentation residents questioned the reasoning behind the tech support staff cuts. In response district officials said a revamp of technology instruction and job functions regarding the roles is part of the reasoning for the elimination of the positions.

“It’s very difficult to make these cuts as we all know the people and we have worked with them for a long time,” said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Daniel D'Amico, noting that the board had reinstated $70,000 into the technology instruction budget to support new curriculum plans.

Resident David Thuma asked the board why it had backed down from the previous budget proposal figures and was actually now spending more money.

“In two weeks, since the last budget meeting, you’ve spent an additional $325,000. You didn’t hold firm to the cuts,” Thuma told the board. “Is using more fund balance a sustainable strategy?” he asked.

“We sure hope so,” said Daly, “because if it’s not we’ll be in trouble.” Daly noted the district is hopeful state aid will be increased next year.

A required public hearing on the adopted budget will be held Monday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m.

Residents interesting in running for a school board seat have until Monday, April 18, at 5 p.m. to file the required petition.

There are four trustee seats up for election: President Henry Brunjes, Roger Katz, Judy Anderson and the recently vacated seat of Board Vice President Cathy Vukovich, who resigned earlier this month. According to the district clerk no candidate has yet submitted a petition.

Voting on the budget and trustee positions will take place on Tuesday, May 17, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Babylon Memorial Grade School.