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Post by bnjasper on Jan 15, 2015 10:03:20 GMT -5
The budget season is here again. As we head into the process of creating the budget that will be presented to the community I remind you: 1. The BOE and administration have acknowledged excessive over-budgeting in the past few years that resulted in large reserve balances. 2. The BOE has stated it will take under advisement a zero tax year. 3. News out of Albany is favorable as to a reduction in pension assessments. 4. The administration has committed to a three year plan that will improve both the budget process and transparency. Let’s keep a serious eye on the process so as to produce the best results.
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Post by bnjasper on Feb 9, 2015 10:18:08 GMT -5
The Governor and legislative leaders are pointing to increased state aid to schools this year. The Governor is posturing and holding districts hostage over some of his other education initiatives. Add this to the pension reductions and we can see the zero tax rate coming clearer. More good news for Wantagh taxpayers as the budget is being prepared. Hopefully, we the taxpayers will hear some numbers at this weeks BOE session. Transparency, as promised by the BOE.
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Post by bnjasper on Mar 5, 2015 14:12:49 GMT -5
Optimism was my hope during my last two postings on the budget process.
The BOE and administration presented their first draft of the budget. They are proposing both a budget increase and a tax increase. Based on that presentation the Herald had a front page article.
The Herald reported:
“Board of Education president …directed the administration to come up with a budget that maintains programs and meets the tax cap.”
I would like to reference the BOE meeting of February 11, 2015. I spoke to the BOE at the open part of that meeting. I first reminded the BOE that at a previous session they had stated a willingness to look at a budget that would yield a zero tax increase.
The BOE acknowledged they agreed to look at a zero tax budget. However, before they could respond the superintendent immediately stated that it was not possible. Specifically, did the BOE ask the administration for a zero tax proposal? The Herald report says NO.
The Herald further reported:
“With pension costs dropping by about $1 million next year the district had funds available for these new initiatives…”.
Appears there was not one second spent on how we can reduce the tax impact this year. The only thought was how to spend the money. I also point out from above where the BOE stated “maintain programs”.
Using just the numbers available to us the budget is up by $1,879,567. This represents the $879,567 shown at the budget session plus the $1,000,000 saving in pension money published in the Herald.
Last year (13/14) our final expenses were $70,144,842. The over-budgeting in last year’s budget was $4,167,269. Yet, we still see the need to increase the budget and tell the taxpayers there is no way to have a zero tax year. If we use the actual expenses of last year vs. the proposed budget ($76,361,321) for next year then the actual increase is $6,216,479. This represents an 8.86% increase.
These are the first examples of the new transparency promised by the BOE.
The last time the BOE approved a budget that had the largest increase in Nassau the taxpayers said NO. It was defeated. The defeat came without any organized opposition. The BOE then made a worse mistake by holding a second election and NOT changing the numbers. This re-vote drew opposition and the budget went down by 400 more votes than the original.
The taxpayers need three BOE members to move to a more moral high ground and become open and honest about the budget process.
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Post by bnjasper on Apr 11, 2015 7:18:15 GMT -5
The district has finally received the new state aid money. Wantagh gets over $600,000 more money. Tuesday at the library is the last chance to influence the use of those funds. Please attend and voice your opinion that the funds should go towards a zero tax increase. The tax payers have funded the district through all the pension increases imposed. Now with a major cut in pension costs the money should go back to the tax payers.
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Apr 15, 2015 10:29:48 GMT -5
Crunch time for the Wantagh Board of Education: this week (TOMORROW - Thursday, April 16th) they plan to adopt a budget for the 2015-16 school year to be decided by the voters in May.
Unlike many decisions made in the school district, the School Budget and the associated tax levy are the exclusive responsibility of the Board of Education members, meaning, this is not a responsibility shared with the Administration.
"Ownership" of the school budget is an awesome responsibility for each of the Board Trustees. There are some very key issues weighing upon their deliberations this year, as well as economic factors, including a favorable $1.3 Million reduction in pension costs, and a significant increase in State Aid (somewhere between $700K and $900K, depending upon one's frame of reference). There are some additional state spending mandates and an alleged "revenue gap" which impinge upon the favorable news a little bit. There are also some worthwhile educational initiatives in the offing. However, there are still sizeable pools of money available to the Board, the result of over-budgeting (and excessive taxation) during the prior five years, and, there is a reportedly negative audit report that directs the District to shed a respectable amount of its reserve cash.
Meanwhile, the Board is also hoping to win voter approval to tap into the Capital Reserve Fund for a project next year.
My hope is that the Board will do the right things by the taxpayers of Wantagh. That would include adopting a budget that is in-line with real spending, freeing themselves from the past over-budgeting (and excessive taxing) practices, and by doing so, garner for themselves justly deserved accolades for committing to a "zero" tax levy increase, and putting the district's cash to good use.
I am looking forward to being able to wholeheartedly support the School Budget and the Capital Spending initiative in May.
Sincerely,
Chris Wendt
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Apr 16, 2015 11:32:08 GMT -5
Decision Time!
The Board of Education meets tonight, Thursday, April 16th at 8:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. Adopting the proposed 2015-16 School Budget is on the agenda as a New Business item. This is the budget that will go before the voters on May 19th.
I am looking forward to this evening's meeting.
Hopeful,
Chris Wendt
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greda
Junior Member
Posts: 44
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Post by greda on Apr 16, 2015 16:09:30 GMT -5
From Agenda for this evening: RECOMMENDED MOTION: “that a proposed school district budget figure in the amount of $75,711,069.00 be approved for placement on the official ballot of the regularly scheduled May 19, 2015 election, and further approve the Property Tax Report Card which shall be filed with the New York State Education Department.”
Was last year's budget $75,481,754? (based on their budget sheets) So they will tell us there will be a slight decrease due to increased state funding but they will still be over-budgeting.I say they really need to do some zero-based budgeting - that would restore some trust. Hire an outside accounting firm to help them get it right if they don't have the people in-house to do it.
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Post by bnjasper on Apr 17, 2015 7:49:17 GMT -5
The BOE came through last night and approved a budget that has NO tax increase. Thanks to those members and those in the community who advocated hard for the tax payers.
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Post by Chris_Wendt on Apr 17, 2015 14:17:37 GMT -5
This was certainly not an easy or comfortable decision for the Board of Education to reach. It was undoubtedly more strenuous for the Administration, who had to come up with the dollar allocations and make the final result happen, in the face of new mandates, in the face of new educational initiatives, and, in the face of competing pressures from many areas of interest.
I commend the Board members and Administrators for their diligent efforts on behalf of the taxpayers of Wantagh.
A hearty "Thank you!" from Mrs. Wendt and me!
Sincerely,
Chris Wendt
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Post by lilly on Apr 28, 2015 8:46:50 GMT -5
I too commend the BOE for this year's budget. (Now, we just have to get certain BOE trustees to reverse their anti-arts spending.) But, great job by the admins and BOE this year on the budget.
The somewhat alarming thing is as I talk this up to neighbors, their lack of awareness about it and school district issues in general.
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