Proposed Farmingdale Schools Budget Below Tax Cap

The Farmingdale School District presented its proposed 2013-2014 budget to the Board of Education at a recent meeting and expects next year's spending plan will remain below the state's tax cap formula.

The state's so-called "2 percent" tax cap actually varies by district and is derived by a complex state formula. District officials told residents that the budget as proposed stays within the tax levy limit of 2.96 percent, which was calculated with the formula provided by New York State. 

The district emphasized that the proposed budget stays within the tax levy limit despite increased mandates from the federal government, New York State and Nassau County. In addition, the district’s universal Pre-Kindergarten program will remain constant in the 2013-2014 school year.

“Our proposed budget will help the district maintain the resources that the Farmingdale community has come to expect for our students,” said Paul Defendini, Assistant Superintendent for Business.  “As a result of the collaborative effort between the district, our union leadership and the community, we’ve been able to stay within the tax levy limit while maintaining our programs that are vital to our student’s academic excellence.”

The Farmingdale School District requested that community members become involved in the issues impacting localr schools. 

The next budget workshop will take place on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at Howitt Middle School beginning at 8 p.m. The final vote on the budget will be decided by the voters on Tuesday, May 21 2013 at the Howitt Middle School Gymnasium from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. For more information, visit the District’s website at www.farmingdaleschools.org.