ISLAND TREES SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Excellence and Success for All Students Excellence and Success for All Students BUDGET EDITION Careful Planning For Our Schools April, 2012 Volume 21, No. 2 Dear Island Trees School Community: The Board of Education has completed its work on the 2012-13 school budget. At the start of the budget discussions, the Board had serious concerns about the budget development process. After all, the district faced the new tax cap law coupled with the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars of educational aid. The Board s goal was to design a budget to support and maintain a high quality educational program for the Island Trees community, while doing so in a fiscally-responsible manner. Fortunately, the Board was able to accomplish this task with minor programmatic changes. The proposed budget-to-budget increase is 1.06%, and tax levy increase is 1.99%. The levy is below the mandated tax cap. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 15. Polls will be open from 12:00 Noon to 9 PM at Stokes Elementary School. Please review these pages carefully so that you can make an informed decision when casting your vote. As a reminder, all budget documents can be found on the district s website, www.islandtrees.org. If you have any questions on the budget or the information presented, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Charles Murphy, Superintendent of Schools (cmurphy@islandtrees.org or 520-2100). McDonough, Budget-to-Budget 1.06% Tax Levy 1.99% Sincerely, The Island Trees Board of Education Patricia Mahon, President Kenneth Rochon, Vice President Kristen Daum, Daniel Donahue, Kim Barbara Medellin, George Storm Please consider this proposal carefully. We look forward to your support and invite you to a Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at 7:30 PM in the Stephen E. Karopczyc School. Voting on this proposal will take place on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, from 12 Noon to 9:00 PM at the Michael F. Stokes School.
Tax Cap Law In early July, Governor Cuomo signed into legislation the historic tax cap law. The new law limits tax levy increases to two (2) percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Lawmakers hope the new law will rein in property taxes statewide. Many economists feel the law will encourage and revitalize the state s economy by keeping more businesses and families in New York. The law allows for a super majority override with a 60% resident vote. This will not be needed in Island Trees. Our 2012-13 school budget is below the 2% tax cap limit 1.99%. In fact, our expenditure budget increase was even less, at 1.06%. Projected Class Sizes Kindergarten - 20-21 students per class 1st Grade - 21-22 students per class 2nd Grade - 22-23 students per class 3rd Grade - 24 students per class 4th Grade - 24 students per class 5th Grade - 25 students per class 6th Grade - 24 Students per class Your Questions Answered... What is the proposed budget increase? The proposed school budget carries an expenditure increase of 1.06%. This translates to 1.99% on the tax levy. Does the budget exceed the new tax cap law? The proposed budget does not exceed the tax cap. Based on the CPI, the tax cap stands at 2% for the 2012-13 budget. Although available exclusions would allow for an increase of more than 2%, the Island Trees proposed budget has a 1.99% tax levy increase What exactly am I voting on? The community votes yes or no on the bottom line total budget amount proposed. This is the financial basis for the authority for all educational programs and services. Does this budget contain federal stimulus aid? No. Unfortunately, the federal grants/aid allocated in past years have expired. As a result, we lost $536,000 in federal aid from last year s budgeted revenue. This has had a tremendous impact on our revenues for the 2012-13 budget. The District reduced spending in the proposed budget. Does this affect the instructional program? Very little. The Board spent a significant amount of time working with school administration to develop ways to reduce taxpayer expense while maintaining the instructional program. Although our students will continue to have a choral experience in our middle school, small group vocal lessons were eliminated in grades 5-8. Are there any exemptions for which homeowners may qualify to reduce school taxes? All New York State residents who live in their homes have the opportunity to reduce their school property taxes through the New York State School Tax Relief (STAR) Program. Senior citizens are eligible for enhanced STAR credit. In order to receive this exemption, Nassau residents must apply to the County Assessor at 516-575-1500. 2 - Island Trees School District
Apple ipad Pilot Next year, the district will pilot the use of Apple ipads in two 5th grade classrooms. We plan to explore the use of these new educational technologies created by Apple and compare the results against our traditional classrooms. We have started to see more and more school districts develop very innovative experiences for their students. While many of these districts are piloting these technology projects across grade levels and schools, we want to take a more conservative approach to implementing the ipad technology. Although there are hundreds of articles lauding the academic benefits of ipad technology, the empirical research is just beginning to emerge. The district pilot will create new research which will help set the direction for the future. The teachers will use the educational apps and ipad technology to drive the academic program in these two classes where all of the students will be given an ipad to use for the school year. We will report back to the community the results of this endeavor at the end of next school year. What a Contingency (Failed) Budget Means If the proposed budget does not pass on May 15, the Board of Education has three options. It can resubmit the same budget for voter approval for a second time; it can submit a revised budget for voter approval; or it can vote to immediately adopt a contingency budget. If the budget does not pass on the second vote, the Board must adopt a contingency budget. For Island Trees, a failed budget would mean: Budget Increase: 1.06% Tax Levy Increase: Approximately 1.99% Why Vote? Five Reasons to Vote on May 15th 1. Every vote counts. Please remember that your vote matters! 2. Because you can. Our government is designed for citizen participation. If you don t vote, others will make decisions for you! 3. You set an example for our children. We lead by example. Our children notice if parents, guardians or relatives exercise their civic responsibility. 4. Be involved. Through voting, you have a voice in the educational programs provided to our children. 5. It takes a community. While you may not have children enrolled in the district, we are all members of one community. Loss of programs and staff Reduction in student activities No purchase of new equipment, including computers and technology equipment Island Trees Citizens Budget Advisory Committee The Board of Education would like to thank the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee for their input, suggestions, and advice during the 2012-13 budget development process. Their feedback helped shape the proposed budget. Kudos to: Joseph Bentivegna, Mike Dieppa, Ted Maleska, Peter Ray, Neil Savino, and Domenick Stanco. Employee Contract Negotiations During the budget development process, the District has been asked several times about the state of our negotiations with our unions. The financial climate coupled with dwindling state aid revenues have contributed to very challenging negotiations with our school employees. Right now, the district is negotiating with all of our labor units teachers, custodians, clerical staff and administrators. In fact, two union contracts expired June 30, 2011. Therefore, if we do not settle in the next few months, these employees could start the year without a contract for a second year. Naturally, our employees are important to the day-to-day operation of the District, as well as contributing to the positive educational environment in Island Trees. At this point, we continue to negotiate in good faith with all of our unions, and of course, we hope to negotiate fair settlements. However, the economic times have made the collective bargaining process very difficult indeed. Community Budget Presentations Monday, April 23-7:00 PM PTSA - I.T. Memorial Middle School Tuesday, May 1-7:30 PM Budget Hearing - Karopczyc Wednesday, May 2-7:00 PM Sparke PTA - Sparke Monday, May 7-7:30 PM PTA Council - Karopczyc Tuesday, May 8-7:30 PM Stokes PTA - Stokes 3 - Island Trees School District
Non-Tax Levy Revenue % of Budget 30.00% 29.99% $16,408,569 29.14% $16,409,492 27.63% $15,754,531 24.88% $14,259,230 25.26% $14,477,500 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Future Budgetary Challenge For seventy years, Nassau County has been responsible for all property tax assessment errors. Beginning in 2013, local school districts will now bear the costs previously paid by Nassau County. Although this will relieve the county of millions and millions of dollars in annual liabilities, the refund obligations do not disappear. The liabilities are passed on to the school districts. Unfortunately, this new responsibility will make school district budgeting under the new tax cap law even more challenging. Typically, these assessment refunds fluctuate year to year; but based on a three-year average, Island Trees will need to budget approximately $300,000 annually for this new financial liability. Technology Last year, the district allocated resources to update and enhance our aging computer hardware. This year, we continue to fund our growing technology needs by adding additional thin clients to our district inventory. Thin clients have all the functionality for student use, but are far less expensive compared to the typical desktop computer. The budget contains sixty (60) thin clients which will replace some of our older district computers. In addition, we have budgeted for four (4) new Promethean interactive whiteboards for use in our classrooms. We hope the new technology will better prepare our students for New York s new college readiness standards. Careful Reductions To reduce expenditures, the Board reduced three administrative positions for the 2012-13 school year. The associated work will be redistributed through a reorganization plan, as well as through new chair positions. This will create approximately $470,000 in savings for the 2012-13 school year. In addition, the district has reduced the Island Trees vocal program. Currently, students receive small group vocal lessons in grades 5-12. For next year, we will have vocal lessons in the high school, not the middle school. Middle school students will continue to have the opportunity to participate in chorus in grades 5/6 and 7/8. 4 - Island Trees School District
Proposed 2012-2013 Budget Expenditures Proposed 2011-2012 2012-2013 Budget Budget General Support $ 5,901,382 $ 5,836,672 Instruction 34,082,844 34,209,291 Pupil Transportation 2,883,046 2,943,115 Undistributed Expenses 14,448,368 14,936,058 $ 57,315,640 $ 57,925,136 3-Part Budget Comparison Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997 now require school districts to divide their annual budget into three components. Therefore, for your review, we have divided our budget into three components as prescribed by the Uniform System of Accounts for school districts. 2011-12 2012-13 Administrative $ 5,327,033 9.31% $ 5,052,696 8.72% Program 44,754,291 78.75% 45,669,393 78.84% Capital 7,234,316 11.94% 7,203,047 12.44% $ 57,315,640 $ 57,925,136 2012-2013 COMPONENT BUDGET Administrative 8.72% Program 78.84% Capital 12.44%
Proposed 2012-2013 Budget Revenues Proposed 2011-2012 2012-2013 Budget Budget % Increase State Aid $ 13,160,466 $ 13,422,701 Charges for Services 81,000 81,000 Real Property Rental 471,088 573,061 Interest Earnings 125,000 100,000 Other Revenues 421,676 300,700 Appropriated Reserves 485,000 - Appropriated Fund Balance 2,965,000 3,055,000 Total Revenues $ 17,709,230 $ 17,532,462 Total Budgeted Expenditures $ 57,315,640 $ 57,925,136 1.06% Tax Levy $ 39,606,410 $ 40,392,674 1.99% Tax Impact on Average Home* 2011-12 2012-13 Average Assessed Value of Residence $ 827.00 $ 781.00 Annual School Taxes $ 5,903.00 $ 6,028.00 Annual Increase $ 125.00 Monthly Increase $ 10.42 Daily Increase $ 0.34 Calculations based on the 2012-13 estimated assessed values as of 4/01/12, and 2011-12 adjusted base proportions. Average home values provided by the Nassau County Assessor's office. Library taxes, which appear on your school tax bill, are not reflected in these estimates. How does my home compare to the average home in the district? The assessed value is calculated at one quarter of one percent of the total value of the home as determined by the Nassau County Assessor s Office. In the example above, the 2012-2013 full value of the average home is $312,400. You can find out how your property compares by visiting www.mynassauproperty.com. Then, visit our website, www.islandtrees.org, and use our tax calculator to estimate 6 - Island Trees School District
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ISLAND TREES UFSD Administrative Offices 74 Farmedge Road Levittown, NY 11756-5202 Board of Education Patricia Mahon, President Kenneth Rochon, Vice President Kristen Daum Daniel Donahue Kim McDonough Barbara Medellin George Storm Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PERMIT PAID 180 Island Trees Public Schools Budget Hearing Tuesday, May 1, 2012 7:30 PM Stephen E. Karopczyc School Voter Registration Tuesday, May 1, 2012 4 PM to 8 PM District Clerk s Office, Stephen E. Karopczyc School Open registration on all school days 9 AM to 3 PM in the office of the District Clerk, up to and including Thursday, May 10, 2012 Only registered voters can participate in the Island Trees UFSD budget vote. Anyone who has voted in one of the last four district elections or general elections is already registered. A voter must be: A U.S. Citizen 18 years of age by the day of the election A resident of the Island Trees School District for at least 30 days prior to the election Absentee Ballots Qualified voters of the Island Trees UFSD who are unable to appear in person on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, may pick up an application for an absentee ballot through the office of the District Clerk, Stephen E. Karopczyc School, 74 Farmedge Road, Levittown, between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM any school day. Such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be returned by mail. Applications may also be picked up through Monday, May 14, 2012, if the voter intends to hand-deliver the ballot to the District Clerk. ALL BALLOTS must be received no later than 5:00 PM on the day of the election. The district is not responsible for postal delays, and ballots received after this time cannot be included in the election. Persons designated Permanently Disabled by the Nassau County Board of Elections will automatically receive an absentee ballot. A copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District s budget for 2012-2013, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by a resident of the District during business hours beginning April 24, 2012, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Administration Office, 74 Farmedge Road, Levittown, NY, and at each of the following schools: Island Trees High School, 59 Straight Lane, Levittown, NY Island Trees Memorial Middle School, 45 Wantagh Avenue S., Levittown, NY Michael F. Stokes School, 101 Owl Place, Levittown, NY J. Fred Sparke School, 100 Robin Place, Levittown, NY 8 - Island Trees School District