Herricks gets additional $230K in aid from state, board approves $114M budget

Rebecca Klar
The Herricks board of education voted to adopt a $114 million budget that the public will vote on in May. (Photo by Rebecca Klar)

Herricks public schools will receive an additional $230,000 in foundation aid from the state, which Superintendent Fino Celano said during Thursday’s Board of Education meeting will likely go toward additional contingency staffing and the technology department.

During the meeting the board voted to adopt the $114,391,671 budget for the 2018-19 school year.

The budget represents a 2.68 percent, or $3 million, increase from the current budget.

The tax levy will increase 2.55 percent, which is within the district’s allowable tax cap.

The average tax levy increase the district has implemented over the past three years, including the proposed tax levy for 2018-19, is 1.44 percent.

The public can vote on the budget on May 15 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the community center.

The district is recommending that the board use the additional state aid to allow for two contingency full-time teachers in case there is an increase in enrollment over the summer.

If the extra staff is not needed, the money will go back into the general fund.

Other money from the increase in state aid will go toward technology enhancements, including a new firewall system.

The extra state aid money will also allow the district to buy more Chromebook carts, Celano said.

Originally the district was looking to buy seven or eight new carts and will now add two more using the state aid money, he said.

The approved budget also includes an additional security guard who will float between schools in the district, Celano said.

Other budget highlights include the purchase of two new school busses, continued work on broken sidewalks, curbs and doors, and the installation of a new bank of lockers in the high school.

Board President Brian Hassan said he thinks the budget is fair and touches “95 if not 100 percent,” of our students.

A simple majority is needed for the budget to pass.

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