Noting that funding for the Massapequa School system has been inadequate over the past several years, Massapequa School District (MSD) Superintendent Dr. Lawrence Pereira this week announced a proposed 2000-01 spending plan that increases taxes by 13.6 percent.

During a press conference Monday, Dr. Pereira noted that of the proposed 13.6 percent tax increase associated with the $99.5 million budget, 5.5 percent (just less than half) is due to budget or fund deficits over past years.

While he commended previous administrators and school board officials for working hard to keep the tax rate down, in response to the community's wishes, Dr. Pereira noted that this has led to a lack of funding. For example, he noted, the district is expected to end the current year with a deficit of at least 2.5 percent - not because of overspending, but because of insufficient funding. That, he said, is because although taxes were increased by 8.4 percent last year, that was composed of a 6 percent increase to pay for the bond for a facilities overhaul and a mere 2.4 percent increase for programs. The superintendent noted that it would have been impossible to meet the district's programming needs with only a 2.4 increase.

"That's a problem," he said. "Last year's taxes should have clearly gone up 15 or 17 percent. But they didn't, so we end up in the hole this year."

The superintendent revealed that due to traditionally low tax increases, Massapequa has operated its finances in the red every year since 1992, except in 1993, when taxes were raised by 5.9 percent. During the other years, taxes were raised by no more than 4.3 percent. Through this year's increase, he hopes to stabilize the tax rate to allow for an average annual increase in the future of about 5 percent.

Dr. Pereira noted that the goals of the 2000-01 expenditure plan are: 1) build a budget that serves tomorrow as well as today, 2) build a budget that funds six long-range plans - instruction, finance, personnel, facilities, technology and public information, 3) build a budget that will focus resources on student performance.

Included in the budget is funding for the following: about 15 additional teachers for increased enrollment, three staff members for academic intervention to help students meet new state assessments, $145,000 to begin to implement a textbook replacement plan ($750,000 total), $255,000 for staff development (an increase of about $200,000), strengthening the early childhood program by adding three staff members, at a cost of between $150-170,000, $115,00 for new equipment and supplies for athletics, music and art, $50,000 to strengthen drug/alcohol/violence programs, $5000 to institute program evaluation/review, $100,000 to focus on student results/performance on state and other assessments, $75,000 to continue support for adult education and the senior center, $100,000 to increase technology software and supplies, and $30,000 to provide academic counselors to help students plan their class schedules.

The proposed tax increase would also bring up per pupil spending. According to 1998 Nassau BOCES estimates, Massapequa is spending $10,622 per student, the second lowest among all districts in Nassau County. The tax increase would bring per-student expenditures to $11,955, which is about the average of what districts with less per pupil income than Massapequa spend.

Relating the crux of the his argument for more spending, the superintendent posed the following question: "If we invest $10,622 per pupil in our educational program - an investment less than every other school in Nassau County except Freeport - can we really expect to continue a high quality educational program?"

The budget vote will be held May 16. According to state law, if the plan is voted down, it may be amended and presented for a vote again. If that budget fails to pass, a contingent budget would be adopted, and state law mandates that the spending increase of a contingent budget is limited to 2.64 percent of the current year - not including debt service and enrollment growth. Several programs and services would be eliminated from a contingent budget - including all equipment, after-hours use of buildings, the senior center, and capital projects.