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Schools

First Look at Northport's 2012-2013 School Budget

Preliminary numbers indicate a 2.31 percent tax levy, legally within state's property tax cap; Superintendent's intention is to come in under 2 percent.

Superintendent Marylou McDermott gave the public a preliminary overview of the 2012-2013 projected budget of $154,753,021 at Monday's BOE meeting. The adopted budget for 2011-2012 was $151,178,758. However, she said it was too early to know what the actual tax rate would be for individual taxpayers. A PDF of the presentation is attached to this article.

Taking into account a number of factors, including tax base growth and the amounts remaining on existing bond issues, the preliminary amount that the district would need to levy -- or tax residents on --  is $134,485,572. Last year’s taxable amount was just over $131 million. That represents a 2.31 percent increase over last year, which appears at first to exceed the state's guidelines of a two percent levy cap.

"This is where the cap is misleading," McDermott said, explaining that certain exemptions are allowed. For instance, contributions to the Employee Retirement System (ERS) in Northport are expected to increase from 16.3 percent to 18.9 percent in 2012-2013. The new guidelines say that amounts exceeding two percent are exempt and therefore not subject to the cap, leading to the higher levy percentage. However, McDermott said her intention is to come in under two percent.

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McDermott took great care to explain that the tax levy and the tax rate are two separate things. Residents should not expect to see their property taxes increase by two percent. Usually the two numbers are different. For example, the tax levy icrease for 2011-2012 was 1.69 percent but the tax rate increase to residents was 1.99 percent.

Asked by residents what they could expect to see as a tax rate, Assistant Superintendent for Business Kathleen Molander said it was too early to tell. Assessed property valuations aren’t due from the Town of Huntington until April, but Board President Steve Waldenburg said trustees should have some idea by the time the Board gives budget direction to the superintendent on Feb. 6.

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Other factors in the $154 million budget are very much in play, such as possible capital projects including: boilers and associated mechanical systems at Dickinson and Bellerose ($750,000); univents at Northport Middle and East Northport Middle Schools ($245,000); univents at Pulaski, Ocean Avenue and Bellerose ($400,000); and major renovations to the Northport High School auditorium, including air conditioning ($385,000), new seats and flooring ($727,000), and repainting the ceiling ($150,000). The Building Committee’s five year plan is due to the board in March.

McDermott said the district was not looking at bonding any of the capital projects. However, Molander said the administration is considering increasing the Interfund Transfer to the Capital Fund from $600,000 to $1 million to help pay for some of the work. 

At the advice of external auditors RS Abrams, the interfund transfer to the school lunch fund would increase by $50,000 to $150,000.

McDermott said she would be meeting with district administrators on Jan. 30 to discuss the budget and that principals would in turn share the information with faculty on the same day. McDermott and UTN President Antoinette Blanck have also discussed holding another meeting at the William Brosnan School so that teachers would be able to give their feedback. “Where we can, we will incorporate those suggestions and continue the dialogue,” McDermott said.

In response to questions by trustees, the Superintendent said, “We have every intention of continuing all of our programs,” adding that the district would enhance those programs wherever possible.

With regard to LIPA’s tax certiorari against the Town of Huntington, McDermott said it would not affect the 2012-2013 school budget. After that, the district, which receives $48 million from the power authority, would have a better idea. “We would have to prioritize depending on what the state requires us to offer.”

The Superintendent will present the proposed budget to the Board on March 6.  Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions at two work sessions at the high school cafeteria on March 19 and March 26. The budget will be finalized on April 16 with the district vote taking place on May 15.

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