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TOPIC: LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year

Vote out Incumbents

Date: Tue Mar 23 5:39 AM, 2010

LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year	Permalink

LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year March 22, 2010 by JOHN HILDEBRAND / john.hildebrand@newsday.com Long Island school superintendents generally expect a faster rise next year in the taxes that constitute more than 60 percent of homeowners' tax bills - and many say this will happen even if state lawmakers restore school-aid cuts proposed by Gov. David A. Paterson. Forty percent of the region's school chiefs project tax-levy hikes in their districts between 4 and 10 percent, according to a survey released Monday by the State Council of School Superintendents. In contrast, only 14 percent of the Island's districts raised taxes that much during the current school year. The average hike this year was 2.72 percent - the lowest in more than a decade. "I think it would be a challenge to keep the tax levies that low two years in a row," said Henry Grishman, superintendent of Jericho schools and president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents. Jericho is projecting a 3.92 percent rise in its tax levy next year, about the same increase as this year's. The new statewide survey also finds that 57.5 percent of local superintendents expect rate hikes of 4 percent or less. And 2.5 percent predict increases of more than 10 percent. All those projections assume that Paterson will somehow push through $1.1 billion in statewide aid cuts, which he has proposed to help close a state budget deficit. Most political observers in Albany consider such cuts unrealistic - especially in an election year. But even if aid money is restored, local school administrators still expect higher rate increases next year. One big reason cited is a jump in contributions districts must make next year to cover employees' pension benefits. For example, the state Teachers Retirement System is requiring a contribution equal to 8.62 percent of teacher salaries, up from 6.19 percent this year. Moreover, districts that used temporary measures - such as postponing purchases or shifting interest income from one year to another - to hold down taxes at the height of the economic meltdown in 2009 are finding it difficult to repeat that performance this year. In Smithtown, Superintendent Edward Ehmann says his system is trying to hold next year's tax increase below 3 percent. Last year and the year before, the district saw no tax increase at all. "It was two zeros in a row, but you can't go on doing that forever," Ehmann said. The statewide superintendents' survey was conducted in cooperation with the State School Boards Association. On Long Island, the survey collected responses from 38 school executives, out of a total of 122. __________________

can't afford it anymore

Date: Tue Mar 23 9:05 AM, 2010

RE: LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year	Permalink

i can't afford any more increases in my school taxes. my household income does increase everyyear at the pace of school budgets. i will vote no either way on my schools budget because i just can't afford it anymore. why can't the school spend within their means instead of inflating spending, like the rest of us do. time to vote out everyone and get conservative spending advocates elected. __________________

Anonymous

Date: Tue Mar 23 10:15 AM, 2010

RE: LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year	Permalink

Because New York State is reducing aid, thus taxes increase. Combine this with ever-growing requriements for special ed and other state mandates that are not funded, expect larger than average increases until state aid is zero. Complain to your legislators and to Albany. __________________

Rising Taxes

Date: Tue Mar 23 5:13 PM, 2010

RE: LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year	Permalink

When revenue slows cuts need to be made, the BOE is responsible. What cuts have been made? How much did the BOE increase the salary of Dr. James? Did he break $300,000? __________________

Too Little Too Late

Date: Wed Mar 24 6:59 AM, 2010

RE: LI school offices expect fast-rising taxes next year	Permalink

AP source: Assembly to restore $600M NY school aid March 23, 2010 by The Associated Press / MICHAEL GORMLEY (Associated Press Writer) (AP) — The Assembly's Democratic majority is seeking to restore $600 million in funding to public schools, according to an education advocate familiar with the effort. The advocate spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks concerning Gov. David Paterson's proposed $1.1 billion — or 5 percent — cut in state school aid. The Assembly effort is significant because Democrats hold a super majority there, making the chamber a powerful voice in budget talks between the lame duck governor and a Senate with a slight Democratic majority. The Assembly's budget proposal is expected Wednesday. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver wouldn't confirm or deny that the target is $600 million, which would leave a cut of $800 million from current funding. School aid is now $21.6 billion. "Nothing is final, we are in conference, but clearly we are a conference committed to education even in this difficult year and we believe some restorations should be made." A $600 million restoration would ease the $1.1 billion proposed cut in operating aid — which excludes building, transportation and other longer term aid — proposed by Paterson and supported by the Senate's Democrats. New York City faces $492 million of the proposed cut that the Bloomberg administration estimates would force layoffs of more than 8,500 teachers. New York State United Teachers Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta says the union also believes the Assembly is seeking to restore $600 million. The Alliance for Quality Education, which lobbies for schools, said even the remaining $800 million cut would be "disastrous for our school children and would be one of the largest cuts in the history of the state." The deadline is April 1 for the budget expected to total about $136.1 billion. It must contend with a $9.2 billion deficit caused by declining revenue in the recession. Silver said Assembly Democrats also are considering Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch's proposal to borrow up to $2 billion this year. Paterson's budget proposal, most of it supported by the Senate Democrats, would increase spending by about $3 billion or 2.2 percent. That's far less than the average of about 8 percent in recent years. In New York City, budget director Mark Page has asked agencies, which have cut their budgets seven times in two years, to slash another $1.3 billion in preparation for a "worst case" scenario from the state. City officials must submit proposals by April 7. Bloomberg has said there is little left to cut in many agencies, so further reductions would mean large layoffs. Closed-door negotiations in Albany continue, and Senate Democrats called their proposal a road map rather than a hardline proposal. __________________

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