The Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Finance (“CACF”) is comprised of the undersigned residents of Manhasset selected by the Manhasset Board of Education to be broadly representative of the community, and it serves as an independent liaison between the community and the Board regarding the annual operating budget for the School District. We have appreciated the extensive and open process that the Board has engaged in again this year to educate and to solicit and be responsive to input from our committee and from the community at large as the proposed budget was being formulated.
Despite an increase in student enrollment by 7.5% over the last seven years and numerous fixed expenses that the Board and the District cannot affect, the proposed budget falls within the allowable tax levy cap — with an increase of 2.52% over the prior year. The average tax levy increase is only 1.9% over the last 7 years and budgeted expenses increased 1.7% over that same period. Most importantly, this proposed budget maintains the school system’s highly-regarded offerings for our children and restores and rebuilds some of the effects of prior years’ cuts. For example, the proposed budget anticipates that, unlike 13-14 and 14-15, all elementary class sections will be within the stated class size guidelines, and provides the high school the ability to add sections to existing courses as well as new course offerings, which will allow the District to maintain its competitive standing with neighboring school districts. Further, extracurricular activities ranging from music, art, intramural and varsity level athletic programs and current club activities were either added or maintained for our children to enjoy.
Having been part of the process, we feel that the District is now well-positioned financially for the coming years. We commend the Board for all of its efforts on behalf of our children and the community.
The members of the CACF unanimously support the proposed budget for the next school year.
Respectfully submitted,
Vlassi Baktidy
Eileen Bauer
David Cielusniak
Michael Hastava
Pedro Jimeniz
Brian Loughlin
Spiros Maliagros
John McCusker
Peter Nikakis
