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Post by bnjasper on Mar 31, 2014 16:27:05 GMT -5
I attended the meeting on March 27. The budget presented was for 75.7 million. This represents a 1.99% increase. The tax levy is planned to be within the cap. As of that night the state aid number was still not known.
The administration confirmed the $13.6 million reserve/fund balance number. However, when questioned, the BOE indicated that as of now they have no plan as to how they will raise the $5 million for capital projects. I plan on asking the same question at every budget session. That $13.6 million is tax payer funds and we are entitle to know why the balance has grown to this level with no admitted plan.
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Post by lilly on Apr 2, 2014 8:33:51 GMT -5
I think there is another budget workshop tonight, 7 pm WHS cafeteria.
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Post by bnjasper on Apr 2, 2014 12:08:52 GMT -5
I see rr added a new subject on budgets. The Newsday article I assume is the editorial about stashing away to much in reserves. That is the key point I tried to have the BOE admit. Let's use some of the reserves currently on the books and not continue to over budget at the taxpayers expense to raise the funds need for capital projects. Hopefully, others will raise the issue with the BOE.
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Apr 2, 2014 14:34:15 GMT -5
I am unable to make this session tonight. Would like to hear the "bottom line" now that the state budget is wrapped-up. I hope the tax levy increase is at or below 2.00%
Although it is not the school board's or the school district's problem, what we were "sold" by the State was a "Two-Percent Tax Cap". I take that to mean, for purposes of setting my own expectations and tolerances, Two-Percent. Not 2.33%
Chris Wendt
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Post by bnjasper on Apr 15, 2014 7:21:27 GMT -5
At the BOE meeting this week the Trustees approved a budget of $75,481,754. This amount is $150,000 less than number presented at the last budget hearing.
I saw only one reference to the amount of reserves in the agenda. That was an addition. At the budget hearing the administration confirmed the $13.6 million reserve/fund balance number as of the previous year end.
However, when questioned, the BOE indicated that as of now they have no plan as to how they will raise the $5 million for capital projects.
The administration has no projections as of that date as to how much we will have over budgeted for this year.
They also had no explanation as to why there has been a dramatic increase in reserves over the past three years. That $13.6 million is tax payer funds and we are entitled to know why the balance has grown to this level with no admitted plan.
Since we are all tax payers I would think many of the regular participants in the budget process would want answers.
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Post by bnjasper on Apr 29, 2014 12:26:04 GMT -5
Based on the numbers presented with April BOE agenda it looks like we are going to show another 3 million to 4 million over-budgeting for school year 13/14. This will presumably add to reserves again this year. Will the BOE have any plan ready for May8? ?
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Post by bnjasper on May 9, 2014 11:03:54 GMT -5
The BOE and administration presented the budget again last night. They acknowledged the issue of (excessive)reserves both in their presentations and in response to questions. The BOE indicated that they hoped for a positive solution to be forthcoming with the conclusion of this fiscal year.
Stay tuned.
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Post by Chris_Wendt on May 14, 2014 6:24:15 GMT -5
The 2014-15 Budget should pass by a wide margin on May 20th. A low budget increase and a low tax levy increase, meaning a tax levy increase below the state tax cap, and low enough to qualify all of Wantagh's taxpayers for Governor Cuomo's election-year tax rebate in the fall. The tax rebate, depending upon a number of factors beyond the scope or control of the school district, could effectively neutralize any actual school tax increase, at least for next year. We'll see. Based on the budget materials mailed home and the public PowerPoint presentation made at last week's Budget Hearing, everything looks rosy in Wantagh. Personally, I hope the budget does pass, and I am looking forward to receiving my tax rebate from Albany. But the title of this thread is "Follow the Money in Wantagh", and it has more than 650 views thus far...people are interested in following "The Money in Wantagh", and they are not necessarily looking through rose-colored glasses at the fiscal landscape. At this time, I want to compliment and encourage the Board and Administration in two areas: 1. Continue working to fulfill your promises made to improve transparency 2. Devise—and implement—a long-range plan for managing fiscal reserves and toward eliminating the perennial cycle of taxing the populace to build up fund balance to offset the next round of taxation. On TransparencyTransparency has a nice ring to it, sounds like an All-American idea, and seems to be what a number of laws are aimed at bringing about in many layers and at every level of government. Speaking from my own experience, however, transparency has never really been attained, here. True transparency in governing is often inconvenient and frequently gets in the way of the Board of Education and Central Administration doing what they perceive to be their jobs. Believe me, absolute transparency is a conundrum, and everyone needs to carefully manage our own, personal expectations about how much transparency will ultimately be the optimum amount in our school district. To be clear, I do not realistically expect (nor do I personally subscribe to any theory which advocates for) pure, water-white transparency in governing and managing every aspect of any public school district. Yet I know we can strive to do better.
Later this week or next, I hope to comment about long-range fiscal planning, possibly in a new thread on this site. But the key message for today should be: "Again, THIS budget is certainly going to pass, and deservedly so, and that will be a good thing." -Me, in another writing. Make it happen. Remember to vote on Tuesday. Chris Wendt
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greda
Junior Member
Posts: 44
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Post by greda on May 15, 2014 9:40:48 GMT -5
Are there no elections this year? I know that the lady stepped down last year which was before her term ended - always wondered if it was related to the whole super thing - and I havent seen any lawn signs
And if they pass the budget they should fix the parking lot at forest lake which has more craters than the moon
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Post by Chris_Wendt on May 15, 2014 13:56:45 GMT -5
Re: "Are there no elections this year?" elec·tion: ...the act or process of choosing someone for a public office by voting; ...the right, power, or privilege of making a choice This is a conundrum, a very, very small conundrum. There are two candidates running unopposed for two seats on the Board of Education. We should count ourselves fortunate, very fortunate, to have two experienced candidates willing to serve on the school board. Imagine what could happen if we did not have two candidates.. Re: "I know that the lady stepped down last year which was before her term ended - always wondered if it was related to the whole super thing...." Your knowledge is deficient on both counts. Not seeking re-election is not tantamount to "stepping down...before her term ended". Do not concern yourself with the "whole super thing"; we have a whole, new super who is doing a good job. Re: "...and I haven't seen any lawn signs...." Which, in and of itself, indicates personal fiscal prudence... ...who would spend their own money for lawn signs in an uncontested vote? Regards, Chris Wendt
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Post by lilly on May 19, 2014 16:47:55 GMT -5
Experience does not equate to competence.
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Post by bnjasper on Jul 4, 2014 9:38:01 GMT -5
New Hyde Park and Garden City Park make the news today. Audit showed excessive over-budgeting resulting in surpluses. Wantagh could well be next. Hopefully the BOE will announce their plan shortly (not later) as to how they will disburse the reserves accumulated over the past few years. The estimate as of the end of the school fiscal year is over $14,000,000.
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Post by bnjasper on Sept 22, 2014 11:14:32 GMT -5
The BOE approved a plan for reserves at the September meeting. The admin presented a very detailed plan for each reserve and fund balance account. They also had internal external auditors and an investment advisor on hand. Ms. Silver did a very good job on something needed for a long time in the district. Admin admitted the new reserve number is now 15.2 million dollars. Thus, very close to the top figure in the new policy. Every reserve account had money added except the assigned fund balance. This is the reserve to support the tax levy. I had hoped with all the excess budgeting (surplus) accumulated over the past four years that additional money would be given back to the taxpayers. No such happening. Admin did promise a three year plan and better budgeting in the future. TBD
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Post by bnjasper on Sept 26, 2014 8:00:57 GMT -5
The Herald gave page one to the reserve debate. There is now $15.2 million of taxpayer money in reserves or fund balances. It noted that the district has never had to dip into reserves yet for four years they have been running large surpluses. Or over budgeting...
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Oct 27, 2014 10:37:38 GMT -5
Last Thursday, the President of the Wantagh Board of Education took responsibility on behalf of the entire Board, for the excess reserves accumulated through five years of over-taxation, when he curtly told a citizen, during the public comment period of the monthly Business Meeting, that, although this citizen may have an opinion about the reserves, it was the Board of Education who gets to make the decisions about reserves (and by extension, about the taxes levied, by the Board, upon the community). The entire Board and all three members of the senior Administrative Team sat silently on their hands as the Board President excoriated the citizen in a most rudely dismissive manner and tone. In my opinion, this was a classic act of bullying, committed by the Board of Education by the intemperate behavior of their elected spokesman, the President, who was running the meeting. I was planning to speak, next, after that citizen, but stayed in my seat rather than rise to address the Board, and risk venting my emotions in reaction the gauntlet laid down by the President, from which my fellow citizen had to extricate himself as gingerly and gentlemanly as possible.
Since this transgression against good manners, this breach of decorum and civility, occurred in public, at a public meeting of the Board of Education, at which all members were present, and given that a member of "the public" was the target of this official bullying, I think it would be proper for the Board of Education to issue a public apology for this sorry event. It would be equally appropriate for the Board Trustees to privately upbraid their President for having made them look really bad in public, on an otherwise auspiciously special night, the theme of which had been "School Board Recognition".
As much as I want this episode to pass, I do not want it or its passing to detract from the seriousness of the subject at hand: deliberate over-budgeting, massively excessive taxation, and ex post facto policymaking intended to cover-up the sins of the past, and make everything appear legal and legitimate. We should not be sitting around on our hands, waiting for the Office of the Comptroller of the State of New York to issue a finding citing the board for excessive reserve accumulations, followed by the de rigueur slap-on-the-wrist letter requiring the typical easy-peasey plan be devised to not let it happen again. We want our money back!
Get your millions back, Wantagh taxpayers!
Earnestly,
Chris Wendt
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