In an effort to clarify the effects that recent tax changes in Nassau County will have on the proposed 2003/04 North Shore School budget, the board of education held a special open meeting at the high school on Monday, March 31. Although the school board had no role in the recent reassessment of property in the district or in the amount of tax levied on different types of property, both will greatly impact the calculations for North Shore's school taxes.

According to the assessor's office, the recent reassessment of homes in the district showed a huge growth in value which far outpaced that of utilities and businesses. Therefore, the amount of tax applied to class 1 (private homes) will increase by over 5 percent, while class 2 (co-ops and rentals), class 3 (utilities) and class 4 (commercial) will basically stay the same. This shift in base proportions will mean that class 1 homeowners will bear a larger share of the tax levy and taxes will increase even before factoring in losses in non-tax revenue and new expenses.

Harvey Levinson, a former special assistant on reassessment to County Executive Tom Suozzi and Dolores Sedacca of the Nassau County Reassessment Commission were at the meeting to answer questions from the community.

Although reassessment, reapportionment and decreased earnings on investments are greatly affecting the school budget, there are other considerations as well. An expected drop in state aid to North Shore Schools of approximately $500,000, escalating insurance premiums and special ed costs, rising contractual obligations and Social Security contributions as well as meeting the needs of a growing retiree population are all mandated costs and are largely beyond the control of the board of ed. In an effort to reduce the proposed budget, the board discussed using a bond to fund critical construction on building infrastructure.

A New York State Building Condition Survey found that the district urgently needs a new roof and boiler at Glenwood Landing, a new boiler and septic field at Glen Head and critical masonry work at the middle school. Estimated costs for this necessary construction is over $9 million. Currently, $2.5 million has been included in the proposed budget for 2003/04.

The board was sensitive to the community's anxiety over the recent tax changes in the district and wondered whether the timing was appropriate to ask for another bond referendum. The repayment schedule for a new bond would overlap that of the existing bonds for about two years.

However, arguments were also made that it seemed inequitable to ask current residents to shoulder the bill alone for alterations and improvements to the infrastructure that would last for 20 years or more. It was also felt that due to North Shore's excellent credit rating and lower interest rates that it was a good time to borrow long term for this relatively small bond. At the conclusion of the meeting, the board voted 4 to 3 to offer the community a referendum to approve a $10 million construction bond, along with the proposed budget at the May 20 budget vote. If the bond is approved, over $2.5 million would then be removed from the budget for 2003/04.

Budget review will continue at scheduled meetings on April 15 and 29 and a final plan will be presented on May 6.