School Board Talks Contingency Budget Numbers

In the final Sachem Central School District board of education meeting prior to the budget vote on May 17, the board and administration spoke about a contingency plan if the proposed budget fails.

At a total of $287.8 million, a 4.49 percent increase from last year, there is an average household increase of roughly $224 to $297 depending upon your township. A contingency budget would come in around $285.3 million, which is a 2.77 percent tax increase from last year.

Among the proposed items to cut if the budget is voted down are all co-curricular activities, the elimination of the Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) program, the elimination of all remaining middle school sports teams, the elimination of the marching band traveling to competitions off Long Island, as well as the reduction of two music teachers. Other cuts include the abolishment of one attendance aide position. The total reduction would amount to $2.4 million.

Board trustee , who announced that he will not seek reelection in this year's vote, said he would have preferred to use the $5 million in reserve funds left aside in the 2011-12 budget instead of taking a chance and risking the programs on the table with a contingency plan.

“I have a problem making additional cuts when there is money sitting there,” he said.

Sachem is using $23.5 million of its reserve funds in the budget as it is. With a potential $18 million shortfall headed towards the district for the 2012-13 school year, Sachem Assistant Superintendent Bruce Singer has said that leaving some money in reserves could be beneficial to some extent.

Sachem Superintendent James Nolan, as well as Singer and some board members, have been making their rounds to various community functions and meetings to speak about this upcoming budget vote.

“We will work our hardest to maintain quality education that we’ve been so proud of, while at the same time remaining sensitive to the tax payers,” Nolan said. “So far at the many meetings we’ve attended we’ve had great questions. Hopefully by May 17 people feel they are truly informed to make the right decision.”

The next regularly scheduled board meeting is June 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the administrative annex at Samoset Middle School.

Sachem Patch will continue to post stories about school board candidates and budget information leading up to the vote on May 17. You can vote at your local elementary school between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.