Over the past several months, Mr. Alan Adcock, Deputy Superintendent for the Massapequa School district, has presented the proposed 2015-16 budget the community will be asked to vote for on May 19. He reported that the district has successfully had long-range financial planning in place for the past 15 years that has funded reserve accounts and provided adequate cash flow to avoid short term borrowing that incurs high interest costs. This strategy has kept the Massapequa School district in good standing on the NYS Comptrollers Fiscal Stress Monitoring Report, unlike 19 other Long Island districts that are in fiscal distress. In addition, it has earned the district an excellent Moody Investment Rating that garners the best rates on long-term borrowing.
The 2015-16 budget comes in at $189,746,159, a zero percent increase over the previous year’s budget. The tax levy is .95 percent, well under the New York State cap of 1.81 percent.
“The district is very pleased to present the community with a budget that maintains all of the programs and services needed by our students at no cost increase,” said Adcock.
Also included in this budget are enhancements to technology instruction that include the continued Chrome Book initiative, additions of varsity assistant coaches to the volleyball and basketball teams, an additional position in security and five contingency teaching positions. In addition to the budget, residents will vote to elect two trustees to the Board of Education. The two incumbents members, MaryAnne Fisher and Joseph La Bella, will be the only candidates on the ballot.
The changes for the 2015-16 budget include a 1.53 percent increase in general support for computerized voting, a state mandated five-year building inspection and the additional security position. Instruction will increase by $2,687,195 or 2.44percent. There are decreases in transportation costs of $270,000, as well as a savings of $159,550 in gas/electric/oil expenditures. Although health care costs have increased by $671,672, there is a savings of $3,571,558 in pension costs, therefore, decreasing employee benefits by 6.29 percent.
The district allocates 80.5 percent of its resources to student programs, 12 percent to facilities/capital improvements and 7.5 percent to administration. In 2013-14, the average per pupil spending in Nassau County was $27,436. Massapequa spent $23,756 per pupil, or $3,680.00 less than the county average. The district currently educates 7,240 students and estimates that enrollment will decline to 7,126 students next year and 6,990 students for the 2016-17 school year.
Massapequa will receive a total of $28,255,084 in state aid next year. The criterion for state aid is based on income wealth, property value wealth, free and reduced lunch population and the non-English speaking student population. Massapequa scores very low in these categories and therefore, receives only 14.4 percent. In addition, the district has lost a considerable amount of money over the last six years when the state instituted the Gap Elimination Adjustment because of the need to close the state’s own budget shortfall. To date, Massapequa has lost close to $20 million in Gap Elimination Adjustment money. Although it has not been totally eliminated for the 2015-16 school year as many had advocated for, it will decrease by $1.69 million.
The budget and trustee vote will take place in all district-voting locations on Tuesday, May 19 from 6 a m to 9 p m. Absentee ballots are due by 5 p.m. on the day of the vote.
