The LPOA met on April 13, 2004 with Treasurer Joe Towell presiding in the absence of vacationing President Jim Morrow. Our guest speaker, Levittown Schools Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, Jeffrey Carlson, had visited the LPOA at the April meeting last year also, as this is the time of year when school budgets are being prepared for the state-wide voting on May 18. Carlson's opening remark was that the 9.8 percent increase in property taxes is "because state aid is not forthcoming - but other districts are even worse off."

Carlson distributed a 16-page preliminary 2004-2005 line-by-line budget which, after further work, will be approved by the board of education.

The budget figures reflect the changes during the years from 2002-3, 2003-4, and 2004-5. The items covered include salaries, supplies, transportation, maintenance and repairs, staff benefits, equipment rentals, health services, utilities, etc. The detailed budget furnished us by Carlson revealed the enormous amount of work the school board and administration put into the planning for the enrollment of 8,138 students. The final figure, $144,570,285 is an increase of $7,588,710 over the previous year; the tax levy increases from $89,553,697 in 2003-4 to $98,402,391 in 2004-5, an increase of $8,848,694 or 9.88 percent.

Carlson also distributed an article from Newsday of March 18, 2004, entitled "Levittown Schools Rise to Challenge." In this news story, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Herman Sirois attributed the improved performance of students to "high expectations." He said that "two decades ago, students performed far below state and county averages, but today they surpass state and county averages on Regents diplomas" with "90 percent of seniors college-bound compared to 35-40 percent in the 1980s. Of last year's seniors, 77 percent earned Regents diplomas compared to 32 percent in 1988-89. Students surpassed state averages 10 years ago, and county averages since 2000." The progress has been "incremental" over a period of years. Sirois said that "school improvement is not magic, just hard work." He added that the improved student performance comes "from teamwork between teachers, parents, and administrators, increased salaries to hire and keep good teachers, improved facilities and wise use of technology, and motivated students." The schools also offer alternative curricula such as vocational programs. Carlson added that many Levittown graduates attend top colleges.

He pointed out that Gov. Pataki's budget had cut about $2.8 million in aid to Levittown. Only two sources of revenue are available: state aid and property taxes. With the increase in the budget, property taxes must inevitably rise. According to Carlson, budget increases are due to contractural salaries, benefit packages (increases in health insurance and pension contributions) and workmen's compensation.

Carlson noted that teachers are educated professionals who must have a master's degree to get tenure. Their salaries must be commensurate with those of surrounding districts. More teaching assistants are needed in middle school as enrollment increases. The bond approved last year will help spread out needed building repairs and maintenance over 12-20 years, with the state returning about half these costs. Neglecting repairs costs more in the long run. Other revenues are collected by the schools through their vocational and special education programs, with 45 districts sending students to Levittown's special classes. The school district has saved by contracting out 22 buses. In some areas such as busing and pension contributions, planning must be long term, not just year by year. In such ways, savings can be realized.

Carlson noted that expenditures cannot be cut without cutting programs, but if teaching staff is cut, it is junior teachers, not experienced senior teachers. Retirement incentives are included in the budget; also 2 percent of the budget's unspent money can be added into the fund balance and carried over so as not to reduce state aid.

There was criticism by LPOA members of the salary increments of teachers and of the superintendent in view of the much lower cost of living increases for the general public. This is especially burdensome for retirees on fixed incomes. Carlson countered that it is vital to have a good superintendent, and that Dr. Sirois was one, as improved student performance demonstrates. Still, some felt the multi-year (ending in 2009) superintendent's contract as exorbitant. From his personal experience in a district with an incompetent superintendent, Carlson said, school programs suffered, and so it is essential to have top quality administrators.

In further remarks about the property tax, Carlson pointed out that the recent Nassau County reassessment had reduced commercial taxes, and made this up by increasing homeowners' property taxes. The property tax is based on 4 classes of property: homes, apartments, utilities, and commercial. He noted that the new assessor, Harvey Levinson, has said there were discrepancies in the reassessment. But the tax rate is set by Nassau County; the school board subtracts state aid and other revenues from the total budget, and tells the county what is needed in property taxes. If the budget fails, the board can call for a revote. If the result is austerity, programs must be cut. Carlson pointed out there is some consolation in tax reduction programs such as "enhanced" STAR. Once the school budget is adopted by the board, it can't be changed. We found the information from Carlson to be enlightening and helpful, especially as members were provided with copies of the preliminary budget.

The next meeting of the LPOA will be on May 11, 2004, with a guest speaker from Supervisor Kate Murray's office, or possibly the supervisor herself, if her schedule permits.