The Farmingdale Board of Education officially adopted the budget for the 2002-2003 school year this week at a special meeting held on April 23, which will result in a $7,340,026 or 7.85 percent increase from last year's budget.

At a budget workshop held April 17 during a special meeting of the board of education, Assistant Superintendent for Business John Lorentz explained to the board and all in attendance the budget process and how funds are divided within the district. He noted the three driving factors of the upcoming budget, which are: 1) state aid. The district focused much concern on state aid, Lorentz explained, as the state has taken a particularly conservative approach with aid this year. Farmingdale estimates that it will receive approximately $853,568 less in aid than last year; 2) capital construction, which is taking place throughout the district; 3) personnel, which accounts for 74 percent of the budget.

Personnel, which in dollars will account for $74,275,770 (or 74 percent) of the budget, includes salaries and benefits for educators, staff and faculty throughout the district. Lorentz noted that $818,690 of that will go toward enrollment and middle school transition, as the district is facing both enrollment increases and is preparing for the movement of sixth-graders to Howitt come September 2003.

The remaining 26 percent of the budget will be spent on BOCES (six percent), contract transportation (four percent), debt service (four percent), contract services (three percent), materials and supplies (two percent), utilities (two percent), capital projects, tuitions, equipment, textbooks and insurance (one percent each).

Lorentz noted that the only areas that really have any discretion are contract services, material and supplies, equipment and textbooks. He also explained the revenue data required for the budget, noting that state aid was required to determine the tax levy, and that the state had not yet adopted a budget so estimates had to be made. He further noted that equalization rates were necessary to apportion to the Town of Oyster Bay and Town of Babylon, as well as assessed value (of which they had some), which were required to determine the tax rate. Lorentz compared the assessed value of residential, condominiums/apartments, utilities and commercial property in the Town of Oyster Bay, as well as expected assessed values in both the Oyster Bay and Babylon townships.

He explained that the 2001-2002 budget is supported 76 percent by the tax levy, 20 percent by state aid, three percent by fund balance and one percent by miscellaneous income. He noted that next year's projections estimate that 79 percent of the budget will be supported by the tax levy, 17 percent by state aid, two percent by appropriated fund balance and two percent by miscellaneous income.

Following Lorentz's presentation, residents were given the opportunity to address the board regarding the proposed budget. This was the community's final chance to address the board prior to their adopting the budget. There will be another public hearing on May 14, as required by legislation, which will provide residents an opportunity to express comments and concerns to the board regarding the budget, after it was already adopted. The district-wide budget vote and election will take place on May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Howitt East Gymnasium. The last day to register to vote is Thursday, May 16, at Howitt. Voter registration will also take place on Saturday, May 11, at the Howitt East Lobby from noon to 9 p.m. The two board trustees running for election are Jane Rubinstein and Marie Colalucci. They are running uncontested.