No Layoffs in Latest Babylon School Budget Proposal

The latest Babylon School budget proposal does not include any staff layoffs, or reductions in programs and services and meets the state mandated 2 percent tax cap levy with a 1.39 percent increase.

The average cost to homeowners would be $114.67 for the year, or $9.56 per month. School leaders said it's one of the lowest tax rate increases in the district's history.

"Very few school districts on Long Island can match this figure," said Board President Dominick Bencivenga.

The tax increase last year was $2.76, $1.90 in the 2010-2011 budget and $1.59 in 2009-2010.

In the most previous budget revision the district proposed laying off three K-6 teachers, a pupil personnel staffer, one administrative job, a clerical worker and a custodian. None of those layoffs will take place given this year's retirement of three teachers and a school librarian, said school officials.

The budget keeps all current programs, services and activities in place and increases spending on instructional technology.

Residents at Monday evening's board work session meeting, where the latest budget proposal was presented, urged trustees and school leaders not to be short sighted with the budget decision making, noting that the district will be facing a greater fiscal challenge next year.

Officials predict that about $800,000 will need to be cut from the budget in 2012-2013 to meet the tax levy cap provision.

Several meeting attendees questioned why the adminstration position was not being cut and told the board that monies should be used to restore programs that have been curtailed or reduced in past years.

"The money going for that admin job could help bring back some programs we had to cut in the past budgets," said a speaker, noting that while teaching jobs have been eliminated the number of managers supervising the teaching staff has not been reduced.

In response Bencivgna said the imminent hiring of a new superintendent was the prime reason for the board not changing the administration scenario.

"We want him to come in and evaluate how things are set up and do a comphrensive review of the school," said Bencivenga.

The board is expected to announce the new superintedent at its April 16  meeting. The board will also officially adopt a budget following a public hearing.

Concerning next year's challenges, board members acknowledged that everything will be back on the potential cut list, including the possibiity of reducing full day kindergarten to half day.

"I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you exactly what we'll be doing then but I can't," said Bencivenga.

Katz is hopeful a new school leader can help guide future budget decisions.

"We'll be in the same hole we started out in this year and no one knows where the cuts will come from," he said, acknowledging it's unlikely to have a large number of teachers retiring a second year in a row.