A Pre-Development Budget Forum sponsored by the Babylon Village School District on Monday, November 21, brought about 40 residents to the high school auditorium. Primarily, residents expressed concern about continually rising school tax rates, and asked what could be done to cut costs.

"You [the board] need to focus on the next teachers’ contract," said John Flanagan. "When was the last time teachers did not get a raise? You need to sit with the teacher’s union and tell them things have changed."

"Babylon teachers aren’t the highest paid in Suffolk County," said Richard Vultaggio, president of the Babylon Teacher’s Association, who is also a village resident and a science teacher at the high school. "We’re mid-range. The Teacher’s Association is sympathetic to the plight of taxpayers. We’re in the same boat."

According to Peter Daly, the district’s business administrator, 70 percent of every dollar goes toward professional salaries, support staff, and fringe benefits. Last year, voters approved an 8.34 percent budget increase.

Burdened by unfunded state and federal mandates, like the No Child Left Behind Act, school officials say their hands are tied in many areas.

"We can control salaries and have some discretion with spending for supplies and equipment," said William Bernhard PhD, the district’s superintendent.

"There is virtually no area we have not explored in order to cut costs," said Thomas Melito, Babylon’s board of education president. "Our school district is one of our community’s greatest assets. We’re a small district. Teachers and students get to know one another well. Yet, our strength and beauty is also our weakness."

Melito was referring to the district’s small tax base of 5,000 families and lack of industrial and commercial taxes which would buttress this base.

"Our district receives one of the lowest percentages of state aid on Long Island," he said. "Our area’s small number of wealthy residents skews the state aid formula. Eighty percent of our revenue comes from property taxes."

Still, several audience members felt more could be done by the district to control costs. "Run it like a business," said resident Ellen Green. "There are things you guys can do to cut costs."

"The nature of this business is highly regulated," said Melito. "There are certain things we have to do. The terminology is not directly transferable between the public and private sector. We take practices we have experienced in the private sector and apply them, as best we can, to the public sector."

"I am not sure there is a valid comparison between the public and the private sector," said resident Bruce Long and a former educator. "We’re not selling a product. We’re talking about human beings. I don’t want to see the music or athletic programs cut. These are invaluable to the kids in this district."

Health insurance costs are an area some residents feel teachers can do more and perhaps, the district less. Bernhard reported that this year was the first in which the district received a percentage toward the cost of health insurance from its teachers. This year it is 8 percent of the insurance premium and next year it will be 10 percent. "Health insurance continues to be our biggest priority," said Bernhard.

According to insurance industry analysts, health insurance premiums have risen consistently between 12 – 14 percent annually in recent years, regardless of business sector.

"Every company in the world demands employees pay more for their health insurance," said Flanagan.

Retiree and resident John Balsamo echoed many of the concerns of his age group when he said, "Retirees want to stay here. Our children are here. Every single year it is getting tougher. How can we be more frugal? There must be some way we can tow the line on health insurance costs?"

District officials have been talking about holding a "pre-budget" community forum for some time, according to Melito. He says the goal of such a meeting is to solicit input from the community so that administrative and board members know what particular programs and services the community wants or doesn’t want, before the first draft of the upcoming school year budget is completed. The official budget process begins in January and continues throughout the spring until a final budget is adopted by the board in May. During the development process, the board holds several discussion meetings for and with the community.

One resident asked the district to look at transportation costs and consider operating it from the inside, rather than contracting for the services. According to the school’s business office, transportation costs the district about $1.7 million a year. The board agreed to take a look at this option.

Another resident asked the board to consider more fully integrating the Literacy Collaborative Program for grades three through six.