The Miller Place School District is gearing for another budget season after an up-and-down process last year initially had many up in arms.
The original proposed budget last year included just over 22 teacher layoffs and cuts to many extra-curricular activities and the entire middle school athletic program. After a tense process, the final budget, which stuck at the tax levy cap, reduced faculty cuts to 16.7 and restored all clubs and athletic programs. This budget passed with just under 70 percent of the vote.
Now for the 2013-14 budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo projects a very slight increase in state aid for the district of $229,913, or 1.29 percent.
"The district is in the process of reviewing and evaluating the different levels of Governor Cuomo’s school aid proposal," said Superintendent Marianne Higuera. "We will be gauging how different components of the proposal will impact budgeting for current programming, support of state mandates as well as new district educational programming currently under consideration. Additionally, we must evaluate the proposed school aid within the context of the tax cap."
The majority of the increase comes to Boces and Special Services, which would move from $877,895 last year to $975,940 this year. The district's first budget workshop is scheduled for Feb. 27 at Miller Place High School. It will include the Executive Summary touching on the tax cap and revenues. Three additional workshops will be held in March, including the budget adoption.
