School Budget Cuts Deeper Than Expected

The Half Hollow Hills School District will have to tighten its belt another notch as updated budget figures now show $9 million in cuts compared to last year’s spending plan.

“We’re pretty close to having a finalized proposed budget,” Anne Marie Marrone Caliendo, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Facilities, said at a Board of Education meeting Monday night at . 

She said that the cost to run the schools in 2012-13 would be 7 percent higher than this school year. Since New York State’s property tax levy cap limits the amount of revenue the district can raise from residents, the district has to make deeper cuts including reductions among staff, athletics, equipment, transportation and BOCES programs. 

The biggest change in the updated budget is a $910,075 reduction in the amount the district planned to spend on purchasing equipment. In addition, the district is planning to reduce the use of substitute teachers, which will save the district an estimated $830,000.

Students may see a change in their bus stops as the district predicts it will save $350,000 by streamlining its routes. The Board said that the district will continue to adhere to its policy of 100 percent student transportation.

Other modifications include the elimination of two Central Office managerial positions, rather than the just one as suggested in January, which will result in a savings of $170,000. The district plans to cut six clerical positions, rather than just the two that were predicted earlier, which would slash $337,000 from the district’s costs.  Also, a middle school guidance counselor will be excessed due to lower enrollment. The savings from that position is $88,000. 

Teachers who run athletic teams with extended seasons will have their stipends reduced, which would further trim the athletic budget, bringing the total sports savings to $145,000.

The district is also plans to reduce its funding for periodicals and books utilized in libraries, eliminating technology-related staff development provided through BOCES and cutting all funding for travel and conferences for faculty other than what is contractually obligated.

Funding for the allocation of student supplies on the elementary school level will be cut, saving the district $70,000. 

At least three BOCES programs will be cut including Student Athlete Leadership Team, Suffolk Edge and Race to the Top. The district said that similar efforts in these programs can be achieved through the schools’ own programming. 

On the revenue side, the district is expecting to receive an additional $600,00 from the state. HHH schools will also see more money from businesses in the area since PILOT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) increased in the Town of Babylon.

The new proposed budget is set at $221,918,299. The board said that the spending plan is the lowest budget-to-budget increase the district has seen in 15 years.

The board will adopt the proposed budget on April 19. The budget vote is scheduled for May 15.