As a past school board member, I have followed this year’s difficult and divisive budget process closely.
To those who voted “no” on May 21, I urge you to take time to learn about the greatly reduced budget now on the table and vote “yes” on June 18 to support high-quality education in Manhasset.
In a short period of time, with extraordinary support from the administration and staff, our school board has made a remarkable effort to listen and retool the budget to meet the needs of the entire community.
They heard the 53 percent of voters who voted “yes” for the first budget in ongoing support of the broad excellence of Manhasset schools.
They also heard the voters who voted “no” reflecting their legitimate concerns about ever-rising taxes.
They went through the prior budget line-by-line and identified $4.6 million in possible cuts, the amount required to stay within Manhasset’s state-calculated tax cap of .15 percent. These cuts included further reductions in administration, increased class sizes, and would have forced total elimination of athletics and extra-curricular activities.
They presented the proposed cuts to large numbers of community members in multiple forums, carefully listening for feedback and guidance. They also posted them on the website for all to see and react to.
Based on consensus feedback from parents and students, they confirmed the obvious: that eliminating all sports activities and other extra-curricular activities would harm the well-being of children of all ages as well as drastically undermine our high school students’ college applications. They also reaffirmed the importance of small class size, especially at the elementary level.
They heard from credible local professionals that implementation of all the proposed cuts would deter young families from moving to Manhasset and measurably undermine real estate values.
For these reasons, the board could not responsibly, or in good conscience, propose $4.6 million in cuts.
Accordingly, they asked the administration to come back with a revised proposal, which they again reviewed line by line. The board-approved revised budget totals $86,176,419 and reflects cuts of $3.1 million from the May 21 budget and a reduction of almost $1 million from 2012-13.
The budget-to-budget change is -1.03 percent and the tax levy increase is 1.97 percent – the latter down dramatically from the prior 5.98 percent. Details are available on the Manhasset Public Schools Web site.
I believe this revised budget protects the core of our outstanding educational product to the maximum extent possible in this environment and reflects broad-based community priorities. I also believe this budget recognizes the spirit, intent, and reality of the state-imposed 2 percent tax cap.
However, due to complex tax cap calculations which result in the .15 percent target for Manhasset (due to debt payment roll-off), the board must again seek a 60 percent supermajority “yes” vote.
Should this budget fail, mandated austerity would require additional cuts of $1 million plus, including for certain the elimination of all sports and extracurricular activities. The fabric of our outstanding schools would be irreparably damaged.
As stewards of Manhasset’s school system, the board has listened and worked hard to balance the interests of all community members.
In putting forth this lowered budget, they have recognized the urgent need to limit tax increases. At the same time, they are steadfast in their belief that all residents benefit in significant ways from perpetuating an outstanding, nationally-ranked school system, whether or not they have children currently enrolled.
It’s vital now for all members of the community to unite behind the over-arching goal of Manhasset school excellence by coming out to vote “yes” on June 18.
Bill Martin
Manhasset
