The Mineola School District budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21 as residents of the district will vote on whether or not to approve an operating budget for the 2002-2003 school year that represents a 2.94 percent increase in expenditures.

The current school year's budget amounts to $57,488,644 in expenditures while the proposed 2002-2003 budget amounts to $59,177,490. According to Superintendent of Schools for the Mineola School District Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli, the district took a very conservative approach to the budget considering that the 2.94 percent increase in expenditures, is the fourth lowest among school districts in Nassau County.

However, because of some factors out of the district's control, residents of the district, if the budget is approved, will see $6.02 per $100 of assessed valuation, an 8.3 percent increase in the tax levy from the 2001-2002 budget, the 24th lowest among school districts in Nassau County. Therefore, the proposed 2002-2003 budget calls for an additional $4,038,846 to be raised by property taxes.

One factor that has led to an 8.3 percent increase in the tax levy is a decrease in the assessed valuation of property in Mineola. The assessed valuation of Mineola has decreased by $1.3 million. An increase in assessed valuation means a decrease in the tax rate while a decrease in assessed valuation translates into an increase in the tax rate. Since Mineola's assessed valuation has decreased, the tax rate of the proposed school budget has increased.

Another factor that has caused the $6.02 per $100 of assessed valuation increase in Mineola is one that is hurting school districts across Nassau County - the freeze in state aid. The Mineola School District expects $3.8 million in state aid revenue as opposed to the $4.6 million the district expected to receive last year.

Last school year, the district experienced an $800,000 shortfall in state aid, receiving only $3.8 million. This year, because of the state aid freeze, the district is expecting only $3.8 million. While the district has received this amount since 1999-2000, the costs of educating children have increased during that time. The state aid, however, has not increased proportionally. As Dr. Licopoli points out, the district is dealing with 1999-2000 state aid for a 2002-2003 budget.

Last year, the district's proposed school budget for 2001-2002 reflected a $3.88 per $100 of assessed valuation. A fund balance of $2.85 million in 2001-2002 was able to offset any further increase in the budget. However, in the 2002-2003 proposed budget, the district's fund balance is $1.65 million, meaning more money has to be raised by taxes in this budget. If the district received more state aid, its fund balance for the 2002-2003 budget would have been more, meaning less of an increase in the tax rate.

Even with a decrease in assessed valuation and a state aid freeze, the Mineola School District administration and board of education feel they have put together a fiscally responsible budget that still supports the district's long-term plan.

Among some of the initiatives included in the 2002-2003 proposed budget are the replacement of four passenger buses, no increase in overall staffing in all areas of the district operations, increase in debt service in accordance to the referendum schedule, recommendation for increasing building and facility security and medical insurance increase projected at 10 percent.

The budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at all schools in the Mineola School District.