The Herricks school district could use additional state aid money to eliminate a proposed 0.12-percent tax levy increase in next year’s budget, Superintendent Fino Celano said.
But that’s just one of several options the school board will consider if the extra funds come through, he said.
“At this point it’s just a matter of tweaking, finalizing (the budget), and whatever the outcome, it’s going to be a winner, I think,” Celano said.
Herricks could receive a maximum of more than $600,000 in additional funding if the state decides to fully reimburse school districts for the gap elimination adjustment, Celano said, money the state withheld from schools to close gaps in its own budget during the recent financial crisis.
If it comes through, the district could use that money and $260,000 in additional savings from unanticipated retirements to flatten the tax levy this year, Celano said.
It could also spend it on equipment, facility upgrades or capital projects, one-time expenses that could benefit the district, he said.
Celano and other administrators are assembling a “menu” of ways to spend the extra money that includes curb and sidewalk repairs, new fencing, a new school bus, new furniture and other items.
“We want to make this something that is sustainable, so it’ll end up in an area that’s a one-time-only expenditure,” Celano said.
Those items will vary in price, and the school board is “weighing the pros and cons” of making additional purchases versus keeping property taxes flat, Celano said.
The board could also potentially increase the tax levy further if it wants to make a large purchase the extra money would not completely cover, he said.
A Herricks tax levy hike could be capped at 0.36 percent over the current year.
“This is fluid right now and we’re still at the proposed 0.12 (percent increase), but it could theoretically go anywhere down to zero and up to 0.36, or anywhere in between,” Celano said.
Other than the savings from retirements and possible additional state aid, Celano said the budget’s foundations have not changed.
The proposed $109.3 million budget reflects a 1.1-percent increase over the current year and adds funds for new teachers and other staff, new and replacement technology equipment, infrastructure fixes and new programs, including an elementary robotics team and additional social-emotional learning programs.
Trustee James Gounaris said last month that presenting a zero-tax increase budget would be a “unique opportunity” the district should take if it can.
Board President Nancy Feinstein, though, said the district would be better off continuing with its proposed increase and use the funds to cover any costs that would be overseen in more difficult years, including a list of repairs and improvements being drafted by the district’s Facilities Committee.
Celano said the school board will likely approve a budget at its April 7 meeting.
District residents will vote on the adopted budget on May 17.
