At the Budget Hearing held May 22, the Massapequa Board of Education announced that it would use any restored state aid to decrease the tax burden on district residents. If the legislature's plan of restoring $1.1 million in aid to Massapequa comes to fruition, the funds would be used to reduce the tax levy increase from 9.88 percent to 8.68 percent.

In an unprecedented move, the State Legislature recently voted to restore some of the state aid cut from the governor's proposed budget for the 2003-04 school year. If the State Legislature's budget goes through as planned, the Massapequa School District stands to receive up to $1.1 million in restored aid.

The Plainedge Board of Education also pledged a substantial portion of the additional state aid it is receiving to reduce taxes, with the additional $1.4 million in state aid being allocated as follows: $900,000 to reduce taxes, $400,000 to replenish the district's fund balance (savings account), and $100,000 for personnel costs - to restore the position of Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics that was cut from the original proposed budget.

Fiscal uncertainties in New York State, record-setting increases in retirement systems and medical insurance costs, in addition to a softened economy made planning for the 2003-04 budget a challenge for all school districts.

"We essentially built this budget using a worst-case scenario approach regarding state aid," said Alan Adcock, Assistant Superintendent for Business. "The district is fortunate in that we were able to develop a sound budget, both economically and educationally, using this approach, thus allowing us to navigate this storm without a dramatic reduction in program. Not every district was this fortunate."

The conservative development of the Massapequa 2003-04 proposed budget maintains the progress of the district's educational plan while keeping the year-to-year budget increase, 6.37 percent, below the Nassau County average. Skyrocketing medical costs and increases to New York State retirement systems have increased district expenditures by approximately 3.5 percent. Sound long-range financial planning has enabled the district to limit spending within its control to below 3 percent.

The annual budget vote and board election for the Massapequa Schools will be June 3 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents currently registered for school district or general elections are eligible to vote. For more information, call the district clerk at 797-6160.

Voting on the Plainedge budget of $51,641,919 will be held June 3 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.