Sullivan West to present $36.35 million budget; Backs legislation to end negative tax levy limits

LAURIE RAMIE
Posted 8/21/12

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — As the Sullivan West Central School District prepares to seek voter approval for its new $36.35 million budget on May 17, the Board of Education is endorsing legislation that …

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Sullivan West to present $36.35 million budget; Backs legislation to end negative tax levy limits

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LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — As the Sullivan West Central School District prepares to seek voter approval for its new $36.35 million budget on May 17, the Board of Education is endorsing legislation that proposes to scrap the possibility of future negative tax caps in New York State.

The school board unanimously passed a resolution at its April 14 meeting expressing support for Senate Bill S.7178 and Assembly Bill A.9792 introduced by Sen. James Seward and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.

According to the resolution the legislation would “effectuate common sense reform to the Tax Cap law by amending the law to eliminate the specter of a ‘negative’ tax levy limit for any school district.”

New York education law limits the amount of revenue that public school districts can raise through the school tax levy to fund school programs and activities, unless a 60% “supermajority” of voters approve the budget and thereby authorize the district to exceed the tax levy limit.

Sullivan West faces a -2.76% tax levy change based on the imposition of a formula that varies from district to district, although its next spending plan is only a 0.59% increase over 2015-16.

The negative cap means that even if Sullivan West spending remains flat under the proposed budget, the district will have fewer tax dollars available with which to fund next year’s budget.

Superintendent Dr. Nancy Hackett told the board that approving the resolution would represent Sullivan West’s statement as one of about 80 districts affected that “don’t want this to happen again.”

“I don’t think this is healthy for any school district,” she said.

A copy of the approved resolution will be forwarded to the bills’ sponsors and to the New York State School Boards Association, which has been advocating for the pending legislation.

Hackett noted that the 2016-17 budget will be presented in three parts, in which the $36,350,468 spending plan breaks down to a 70% investment in programs (up 2.2% from this year), 20% in capital projects (a 2.9% increase), and 10% in administrative expenses (down 13.8%).

In developing this budget, she said that one area of significant savings would be realized by bringing in-house two programs that are currently administered at Sullivan County BOCES following the enthusiastic endorsement from the parents of the affected students.

Hackett reported that they researched the issue and found that the district has adequate staffing, specialists and space available to offer its Alternative Assessment life/career skills and Supplemental Program for at-Risk Children (SPARC) classes on their own campuses. Additionally, students from other districts who need these services could potentially receive them at Sullivan West.

A public hearing on the 2016-17 proposed budget will take place on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Sullivan West High School.

Polls will be open on May 17 from 12 noon to 9 p.m. in the three election districts. Voters will also be asked to elect a school board member to replace Joan Glase.

Calendar change

A petition from high school students presented by Student Government Association President Erin Sumfleth resulted in the board of education agreeing to revise the school calendar after hearing their arguments.

School will now be closed on Friday, April 22, and Monday, April 25, which are the dates surrounding the prom on April 23 and the after-prom trip on April 24 to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ, sponsored by the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club.

The trade-off will be having classes on Thursday, May 26, which was intended to be the start of a five-day Memorial Day weekend break.

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