Breaking Down the Budget: Rocky Point

With the Rocky Point School District's May 17 budget vote only days away, Patch takes a closer look inside the

The 2011-2012 budget is set at $69,509,578, up from $66,855,418 in 2010-2011, an increase of 3.97 percent.

Employee benefits make up almost one fifth of the new budget: 19.3 percent, set at $13,397,493, an increase from $11,775,432.

Total Instruction, which includes Instruction-General Education is 31.3 percent,  and Special Ed Instruction, 18.3 percent, is totaled at $40,204,506, up from $39,080,862.

Administration and Support Staff is 2.3 percent at $1,589,897, a slight increase from $1,570,540.

Central Services, which includes maintenance, is 8.3 percent at $1,589,897, up from $1,570,540. Athletics and Pupil Services, at 4.3 percent, is $2,973,893, up from $2,941,390.

Other categories: Transportation, 6.9 percent of budget; Debt Service and Fund Transfers, 5.4 percent; Community Ed and Summer School, .6 percent; Curriculum and Building Administration, 3.4 percent.

The largest source of school funds is tax levies, 62.6 percent, followed by state aid at 27.5 percent. The tough economy has seen a $1.5 million reduction in state aid this year.

According to what the district itself reported, the salary for the Rocky Point Superintendent is the same in the 2011-2012 budget as the previous budget: $210,000, which is about average for superintendents in Suffolk County. The superintendent's benefit package, that was $46,673 in the previous budget, is now $65,264 in this year's budget up for vote.

Salary for the assistant superintendent was $152,000 in the previous budget, with a $38,570 benefits package. In the new budget it's $170,000, with $46,673 benefits package.

Benefit packages include retirement, life insurance, health insurance, workman's comp and any other benefits the employer might extend.

Keep an eye out for Miller Place's Budget Breakdown on Monday, May 16.