Seaford Facing Another Challenging Budget Process

Amid operating on austerity conditions for the first time in six years, Seaford district officials are projecting another challenging budget process in the months ahead.

Seaford Superintendent Brian Conboy said during Wednesday night’s Board of Education workshop meeting that much like last year, many external factors will be out of the district’s control when crafting a budget such as escalating medical and employee benefits costs. Conboy also said he is not expecting much help from Albany because of the state’s fiscal woes.

Seaford voters rejected two proposed spending plans in and forcing the district to operate on a of $54.8 million for this school year.

Seaford along with all other school districts across the state is facing a new 2 percent tax cap rule passed by Albany lawmakers last summer. However the tax cap does provide exceptions for expenses like the teacher retirement system (TRS) and debt repayment costs. Conboy said factoring in the TRS and debt repayment costs would bring Seaford to a 3.39 percent tax levy increase.

Seaford Board of Education vice president Richard DiBlasio said it will be vital that the district educate the community about reasons why their budget proposal would be allowed to be above the 2 percent tax increase level because of TRS and debt repayment expenses. Conboy said he is planning to hold a town hall style meeting in January as a way to communicate with the public about where Seaford stands with the tax cap situation.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” said Seaford Assistant Superintendent for Business Ken W. Aldrich toward the end of Wednesday’s night’s Board of Education meeting held at .

Under the new state legislation, districts can exceed the 2 percent tax cap threshold (in Seaford's case a 3.39 percent tax levy increase) if 60 percent of voters approve the budget proposal. If Seaford's tax levy hike is 3.39 percent or less than only a simple majority is needed to adopt the proposed budget. 

The next Seaford Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3 at starting at 7:30 p.m.