The Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education is proposing a 5.93 percent budget increase for the upcoming 2007-2008 school year. The budget would then go from $162,315,000 this year, to $171,935,024 for next year. As has been the case for many, many years, much of this increase is due to expenses that are out of the control of the school district.

Board of Education President Barbara Berkowitz called this preliminary working budget "a continuation budget," where the school district will maintain "the same fine programs" while they are forced to fund mandated programs. In an interview the day after the budget was presented at the board of education's March 12 meeting, Ms. Berkowitz told the Great Neck Record that in comparison to neighboring school districts, the Great Neck increase is about the same, if not lower.

For this proposed $171,935,024 budget, $160,668,977 will have to be raised by real property tax, a 5.80 percent increase over the current budget. This translates to 93.5 percent of the budget. Only $7,340,274 is expected from state aid, a total of only 4.27 percent of the budget. The rest of the budget revenue, 2.28 percent, is listed as "miscellaneous."

Again for the 2007-2008 school year, the overwhelming portion of funds goes to teaching --- 73.72 percent for instruction. Buildings and grounds account for 11.18 percent in expenses; transportation translates into 6.53 percent of the budget; general support (including fringe benefits) accounts for 3.87 percent of the budget; adult education and recreation receives a 1.83 percent of the allocation of funds; debt service accounts for 1.69 percent; and capital projects receives 1.18 percent of the budget.

Presenting the budget, Superintendent of Schools Ronald Friedman said that the budget process begins at the start of the school year (in September), but is actually a three-or four-year ongoing process. As a result, they do have an indication in advance at to where the budget is heading, and the district gets "heavily into the budget" in November.

Dr. Friedman went on to explain that when he and his administration begin to consider the budget, they look at fixed costs, which are a large portion of the budget, and which are out of the control of the district. And then they look at variable costs and at needs, and they must decide where they can hold down costs. All of this work is done in conjunction with district staff, including input from the UPTC. And thus the preliminary working budget is compiled.

Dr. Friedman said that once the budget is developed "it gets refined from here ... basically it's a working document." There are then several budget hearings. On Saturday, April 14, 9:30 a.m., at the South High general purpose room, there is a budget meeting where the board of education and the superintendent go through the budget, line by line.

Dr. Friedman said that the district must maintain its infrastructure, address building needs, and continue programs that are vital for the children.

Ms. Berkowitz noted that the board and the superintendent will meet with both the GNTA (Great Neck Teachers Association) and the UPTC (United Parent Teacher Council), to hear their input.

And Ms. Berkowitz emphasized that "this is only the beginning; this is a continuing process."

The second budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 26, at South High School. The regular public action meeting, including the budget hearing, is scheduled for immediately following the 8 p.m. student recognition.