Tax Cap and Budget Talk Dominate Board of Ed Meeting

It's nearly six months before the public will vote on the budget for 2012-13, but the topic was the center of discussion at the December Board of Ed meeting Wednesday night at .

The key number in town is 2.88 percent. According to administrators, that's the estimated maximum allowable tax levy that would support whatever budget is proposed, meaning the tax levy would increase from this year.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Paul Defendini presented a detailed explanation of how the levy is calculated, and stressed above all else that the state's new property tax cap is not a 2 percent cap, and that the tax cap limits a school district's levy, and not the individual tax bill of a resident.

"The levy has nothing to do with when a taxpayer opens up his tax bill and sees an increase or decrease in taxes," Defendini said. "Those kinds of increases are not the result of the district, they are a result of Nassau County assessments, [etc]."

This year's tax levy for Farmingdale . Factors such as town real estate additions and renovations (tax base growth factor), PILOT payments (funding for industrial properties incentivized to come to Farmingdale) and the subtraction of exemptions (debt service for improving district facilities) create an adjusted 2011-12 levy.

Figuring in the allowable levy growth factor, and next year's debt service payments and exemptions (pension costs), and that brings next year's maximum allowable levy to over $115 million, the 2.88 percent increase.

The board will have several options for proposing a budget. If a budget is proposed requiring a levy at or below the 2.88 percent, it will require a simple majority to pass (50 percent of the vote +1). Or, a budget requiring a levy above the limit can be proposed, which would require a board resolution and a super majority (60 percent voter approval).

If the budget is not approved by the public on May 15, the district may resubmit or submit a revised budget to the voters on the third Tuesday in June. Should that fail, the board must adopt a budget that levies a tax no greater than the 2011-12 school year (0 percent increase). That is the worst case scenario, the board says.

"It would very much change the face of Farmingdale, in a single year, Farmingdale would not look like it does now because of the kind of reductions we'd have to make ... the people's voice in voting for the budget is more important than it has been in the past," Defendini said.

Other news and notes from Wednesday's meeting:

• New district Director of Instructional Technology William Brennan gave a presentation of the Parent Portal system, which allows parents to monitor their kid's report cards, attendance, and schedule online.
• Representatives from the district's cafeteria workers expressed their disappointment over working without a contract and concern for their jobs. The board said they will take the matter under advisement but would not negotiate in public.
• The issue of , which could allow middle school athletes to play on high school teams, was not voted on.
• The is undergoing repairs with hopes it will be ready to reopen next week. The board shot down rumors that the pool will be closed down.
• It is possible future meetings could be conducted online so those who can't make it down in person will have access from home.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. in the cafeteria. 

What's your opinion on this preliminary budget talk? Tell us in the comments.