If You Build It, They Will Come

Manhasset Baseball Celebrates New Field on ‘Day of Baseball’

Saturday, May 9 was a special day for the Manhasset baseball community. Sponsored by the MHS Booster Club, Manhasset PAL Baseball, and The Indians Rock Field of Dreams Committee, the Day of Baseball ushered in a new era for Manhasset’s baseball players young and old. Paying tribute to all those who contributed to making the dream a reality, the well-attended event served to dedicate the new varsity baseball field as well as showcase the play-off bound girls varsity softball and also play-off bound boys varsity baseball team.

What Exactly Is a Contingency Budget?

From a Purely Financial Perspective, The Vote is Really About $441,166

The Manhasset School Board’s proffered budget of $81,094,279 for 2009-2010 represents just a .87 percent increase over 2008-2009. The board, as is required by law, has also set forth a smaller contingency budget in the amount of $80,642,369 that would be adopted in the event the proposed budget is defeated. Many have asked how this is possible if the law provides for a contingency budget that may contain increased spending of as much as 4 percent.

The short answer is that is what the Education Law provides. While a school board has the right to impose a 4 percent increase in spending in the aftermath of a defeated budget, it also has the discretion not to do so. And that is what the Manhasset School Board, and other school boards across Long Island, is doing. It is simply not the case that when voters defeat a school budget that, as proposed, is less than the statutory limit, the contingency budget automatically defaults upward to the statutory limit. If the voters defeat a proposed budget that is, as is the case with the Manhasset school budget, less than the statutory cap, the budget ultimately adopted--also called an austerity budget--will, in fact, be less than that proposed budget.

Senator Johnson Does an About Face

Senate Majority Agrees to Bailout MTA With Payroll Tax

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has a slogan – “Going Your Way.” But it should possibly be changed to “Going in Your Pocket.”
The Senate Democratic Majority has voted to support a bailout of the MTA with a payroll tax that will be applied to all businesses in the areas the MTA serves including Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Manhasset Press Editor Wins Fair Media Council Award

Pat Grace, editor of the Manhasset Press, was recognized May 1 at the Fair Media Council’s luncheon where Dan Rather was the keynote speaker.

Pat received the Folio Award for winning in the print category for a feature story under 2,000 words for her Oct. 16, 2008 article “Gift of Life’s Legacy Comes Full Circle.”

CAC Finance

The Citizens Advisory Committee on Finance (CACF) unanimously supports the proposed Manhasset School District Budget of $81,094,279 for the year 2009-2010. The budget represents an increase of 0.87 percent over the prior year. The CACF, which is comprised of 12 residents of Manhasset selected by the board of education, is responsible for advising the board on financial matters, specifically on the annual school budget.

Once again, we note with appreciation the transparency of the budget process and the wealth of financial information made available by the administration. The proposed year-over-year increase of only 0.87 percent is quite an achievement, taking into account that: (i) there are an additional 66 students projected to be enrolled in the district for the next school year, (ii) all current instructional programs will be continued, (iii) there will be no increase in the class size guidelines, and (iv) all extra-curricular and interscholastic athletic programs will be maintained at this year’s levels.