Babylon Schools presents lowest budget increase in 15 years
by Janine Logan

With a year-to-year budget increase of 3.94 percent, Babylon School District administrators say this is the lowest budget increase in 15 years. The proposed budget of $40,201,359 for the 2007 - 2008 school year eliminates some programs and staff, but keeps all core academic programs in place. Details of the proposed spending plan were presented at a community meeting on Saturday, March 24, 2007.

"What we're seeing in votes and polls is that people are not happy with the increases they have been getting," said Peter Daly, the district's assistant superintendent for business in explaining the rationale behind the proposed spending plan.

The board and central administration responded by crafting a near bare-bones budget that keeps the line on spending. A contingency budget would only be $38,215 less than what's been proposed. A contingency budget is a state-imposed cap on spending and kicks in when school district's budget is defeated twice by voters.

Eliminated in the proposed budget is the foreign language program in grades K through 5, some assistant coaching positions, as well as reductions in aide time, custodial staff, and clerical positions. Other programs, like the phonemics program at the elementary school, will be offered in re-configured formats.

"We looked at every single program," said school board member Henry Brunjes. "We didn't just cut and slash. We prepared what we believe is a responsible budget."

The foreign language program, especially at the elementary school level, was not meeting its goals, explained Brunjes. "We weren't able to provide it on consistent basis."

Still, there is a perception that there is under utilization of resources, said one resident. "There isn't optimi- zation of people and resources throughout the school district."

School boards and districts are working with some numbers that are built in such as contractual obligations and state mandates. Employee health benefits represent about 19 percent of the budget. Employee cost sharing of health insurance premiums has been increasing incrementally each year, according to Daly, with teachers expected to pay 11 percent toward their premiums next year. The district pays about $13,000 for a family plan.

"It sounds like you are getting a competitive rate," said resident Lully.

"About 17 percent of our revenue comes from state aid," said board member Thomas Melito. "This is lower than most other school districts on Long Island. They get about 30 percent."

The state aid reform initiative supported by Governor Eliot Spitzer forced the district to consider a conservative state aid increase of 2 percent when compiling next year's school spending plan. Since that time, however, the state budget was finalized and initial figures show that Babylon will receive approximately a 6.99 percent increase in aid, excluding building and transportation aid.

Additionally, Babylon could benefit from a $609,514 grant that was legislated as part of last year's school aid package. Known as EXCEL aid, districts can only access their EXCEL grant by holding a vote. Residents will vote for this "free money" at the May 15 budget vote.

The proposed $40.2 million budget for the 2007 -2008 school year would result in a projected tax-rate increase of 5.94 percent or approximately $9.58 per $100 of assessed value if approved. The current tax rate is $161.25.

The proposed budget will be presented in its entirety once again on Monday, April 16, at 8:15 p.m. in the high school library, when the school board meets to adopt the spending plan. The school budget and trustee vote takes place Tuesday, May 15 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Grade School.

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