Proposed Seaford Budget Presented at Hearing

Many different numbers were highlighted at Thursday’s night’s annual Seaford School District Budget Hearing but $57 is the one that could have the biggest impact in terms of convincing voters to pass the proposed spending plan.

Fifty seven represents the dollar differ difference the average voter would see in their tax bill if the proposed $55.2 million spending plan is approved on May 17 versus a contingency budget. The proposal, which represents a 2.93 percent increase over the current budget, would mean a $600 tax rise for the average Seaford homeowner. If the district fails to pass a budget and is forced onto austerity, which would be a 2.26 percent increase, the average homeowner’s tax bill would rise $543.

While the difference between the proposed spending plan and a contingency budget is small district officials have emphasized that the impact could be large. Under a contingency budget, which Seaford last operated in during the 2005/06 school year, the district is limited to spending only on bare essential items. Extracurricular programs such as middle school sports, which were as a possible cut during the budget process, could also be in jeopardy as well as full-day kindergarten.

“If this budget fails it gets worst from here,” said Seaford Board of Education trustee John DelGiudice during the sparsely attended budget hearing held in the John Manso Auditorium at .

Seaford was met with a major challenge with its budget planning this year due to losing $1.5 million in state aid and $76,000 in revenue from the former Seaford Avenue School after a Nassau County BOCES program ended their lease last year. As a result the tax levy, which is the total amount that a district must raise in property taxes in order to meet expenses, would rise 8.99 percent if the budget is approved.

If Seaford wanted to maintain all current programs and staffing the district would have needed to propose a 7 percent budget increase. In an effort to bring the budget increase down some cuts were included in the proposal such as 25 personnel positions, 12 department chair positions and the seventh grade volleyball and basketball teams

Some district residents who attended the budget hearing expressed frustration with the proposed tax levy increase. “It’s hard to pay these rates,” said Richard Colby, who lives on Jackson Avenue.

Lorraine DeVita criticized the district’s budgeting over the years that she says led to such a high tax levy increase this year. “I think it’s pure mismanagement,” said DeVita. “The community cannot handle this anymore.”

Ken Levy expressed support for the budget and praised the board for the hard work they put into drafting it.. “I think they are doing the best they can to bring things down as best they can,” said Levy. “I praise them for that.”

Two Referendums Also Discussed

The budget hearing also featured short presentations on two additional referendums that will be on the May 17 ballot. One asks permission from voters to use $596,719 in remaining funds from the bond issued in 2007 to construct an access road at . The other referendum asks voters to modify mileage limits for middle and high school students and if passed would assure that all youngsters who reside south of Sunrise Highway would not have to walk to school.

Heidi Miller, who helped gather petitions to get the transportation referendum on the ballot, urged residents to pass the proposition emphasizing that it would only cost the average household $24 a year. “We want to keep our children safe,” said Miller.

When asked about the access road referendum  district officials emphasized that if approved there would be no additional borrowing beyond what was already approved by voters for the 2007 bond, which equated to about $95 per household over 18 years. The reason the district has to issue a referendum for the project is because it was not included in the 2007 bond.  The access road, which would connect Bayview Street with Ionia Street, has been in the works going back to the 1970’s and is needed to ease massive traffic congestion that builds up around the school during arrival and dismissal time, according to district officials.

“Without that road it is a safety hazard for everyone,” said Seaford Board of Education vice president Richard DiBlasio during the hearing.

Voting for the budget and two referendums is scheduled for May 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at and Seaford Harbor School. For further information on the budget or referendums log onto the district’s website.