Under Governor Pataki's budget proposal for 2003, Long Island School Districts must absorb state aid reductions of over 190 million dollars. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno in a March 29, 2003 article in the Times Union painted the fiscal situation of the state for the next two years as a "catastrophic mess." In the same article he went on to say that if the legislature doesn't restore the education and health care dollars, municipal and school property taxes will soar.

The Island Trees School District is not immune from the state fiscal mess when preparing their 2003-2004 school budget. Island Trees received a state aid cut of 13.17 percent that amounted to a loss of $1,327,276. They also received notice of required increased contributions of $432,000 to the New York State Teachers Retirement System. A required increased contribution of $435,000 to the Employees Retirement System. A $276,000 increase cost in the Empire Medical Plan and an anticipated increase of 12 percent in their liability insurance.

When totaling the impact of this devastating financial news, Island Trees had to begin developing their budget for the 2003-2004 school year "already in the hole" by $2,470,276 or 6.2 percent of their current budget.

The Island Trees administrative leadership team realized that to keep faith with Island Trees residents every area of the budget had to be explored to reduce costs while still trying to provide quality learning opportunities for their students.

Superintendent Segerdahl stated to the board of education that to keep the tax increases as low as possible staff cuts had to be made! Twelve teaching positions were eliminated. Low class sizes allowed for the elimination of four elementary staff positions. Senior library clerk positions were decreased from 12-month positions to 10-month positions. Supplies and equipment were reduced in almost all areas. Some special education aid positions were decreased from full time to part time. The cost of Driver Education was increased to $250 plus the cost of supplies.

Segerdahl reported to the board members that the proposed budget contains a complete K-12 educational program. The proposed budget also includes financing for continuation of the 9-period day, all-day kindergarten, the summer YES Program, extensive summer program offerings, district-wide music and programs, transportation, academic intervention services, computer technology and career education offerings. The budget also contains the first payment on the 3.5 million-dollar bond passed on 12/11/01.

At the March 26 board of education meeting the members of the board were unhappy with having to pass resolutions to eliminate or reduce positions in the district. The superintendent praised the work of the employees but explained that in these difficult economic times every effort must be made to keep the tax increase as low as possible to the Island Trees residents.

The superintendent indicated that many, many hours were spent trying to cut expenses without harming programs for our children. He stated "this is a very lean budget that represents overcoming the loss of over 2.4 million dollars and represents an increase of $1,998,049 or 4.98 percent increase over the 2002-2003 budget.

The Island Trees Budget Newsletter will be mailed shortly to all district residents. The district budget hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, at 8 p.m. in the Geneva N. Gallow School.