In response to the letter "Proposed Budget Includes Inordinate Expenses" published in your May 5, 2006 edition, I would like to provide the following information:

* The Levittown school district does not allow students to go door to door to request donations. The policy adopted by the Board of Education states "Under no circumstance may students engage in door-to-door sales or solicitation of funds or pledges as part of any fundraising or other activity." There are sufficient funds in the school budget to provide for the needs of all our athletic teams.

* The bleachers that were installed at MacArthur High School did not cost over $800,000 as stated. The actual cost was under $350,000.

* The irrigation system at the Salk/MacArthur campus has been there for at least 25 years, and the fields have not suffered from burning.

* While it is true that property taxes and the cost of living in the Northeastern United States is higher than in some areas of the country, the Levittown school district had the lowest percentage increase in school taxes in Nassau County this year, and one of the lowest projected increases for the 2006-2007 school year.

* The postcard with school budget information that is mailed out each year is required by New York State law to be sent by every school district in that exact format (including using as an example a home with a market value of $100,000). There is also a budget newsletter sent to every home in the district which contains more detailed information, as well as numerous meetings with two separate community budget committees, four public budget planning sessions, two public hearings on the school budget, and numerous presentations to local civic groups.

I would also like to invite any resident of the Levittown Public Schools wishing to get more involved in the development of the school budget to join one of our budget committees. More information on this is published in this newspaper each year towards the end of summer.

Jeffrey Carlson

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, Levittown Public Schools