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West Babylon School spending proposal to be offset by higher state aid package West Babylon SchoolDistrict is proposing a budget that calls for $3.3 million more in spending over the current budget of $81,024,426, and would bring in a 2.96 percent increase in the tax rate if approved by voters, Tuesday, May 15. School officials said that the budget utilizes some fund balance and the entire increase in state aid for the coming year to reduce the tax-rate increase. This year's projected state aid package is $28,033,825, up from $26,627,000 for the 2206- 07 school year. The general support budget, which includes central administration board of education and central services, including maintaining and operating school buildings and grounds, BOCES charges for computerized attendance and custodial and security services, utilities and districtwide printing and mailing, will be increased $231.64 from $8,725,788 million to $8,748,952. Line items for instruction including administrative salaries, special education and instructional media costs, pupil services and activities, will increase $3,505,503, from $45,651,851 to $49,157,354. The line item for transportation will go down $244,534 from $3,566,071 to $3,321,537 and community services, which includes adult education classes will increase $10,000 to $41,100. "In January, the district received an A-1 rating by Moody's Financial Services, which is a distinction," said Superintendent of Schools Mel Noble. "So the budget continues to reflect prudent spending and we believe that the modest addition in programs (in the proposed budget) allows us to continue to offer an excellent variety and concentration of course work and activities." The proposed budget is for $84,309,025, and will bring the current tax rate in the district will go from $147.01 to $151.37 per $100 of assessed value. That means that a family in a home assessed at $4,000 would pay a total annual school tax bill of $6,054.80, excluding any New York State tax reimbursement rebates such as STAR and Enhanced STAR. Should voters not approve a budget, and the district is required to operate under a contingency spend- ing plan, the tax rate would be reduced by approximately 3-cents. Homeowners living in a home assessed at $4,000 would pay approximately $1.20 less a year under contingency. The difference between the proposed budget and the contingency budget is approximately $10,000, according to the district's Superintendent for Finance Anthony Cacciola. "This is a very sound spending plan that maintains programs and adds some things," said Cacciola, who will assume the post as School Superintendent July 1.
In addition to maintaining all existing programs and services, the plan calls for adding a K-5 summer school program for language arts and mathematics. It also includes $100,000 line item for the district's instructional technology program.
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