by Carolyn James

The Plainedge School Board will be adopting a proposed school budget tomorrow night. The spending plan calls for a 7.9 percent increase in spending from $40,785,373 to $43,997,944. That represents an increase in the tax rate of $4.95, bringing it from $70.04 to an estimated figure of $74.99.

The budget takes into account some major initiatives, including an anticiapated increase in total enrollment of 2.2 percent and an all-day kindergarten program—the first full-day program the district has offered.

"Make no mistake about it," said Superintendent of Schools John Richman, "quality education has a cost." He pointed out that just to continue the programs and services now offered would cost the district $1 million or $2.41 cents on the tax rate.

Richman presented an overview of the district’s position in relation to other districts in terms of its tax rates, pupil expenditures and assessed value of real property.

"School tax rates don’t tell the entire story," said the Superintendent. "What we have to look at also are the average taxes paid, and when we do that, we can see that Plainedge is in the middle."

The tax rate figure is derived after taking the total amount of state aid and other sources of revenue other than those raised through real estate taxes from the total operating budget. That figure is then divided by the total real property assessment in the district within the four classes, residential, multi-family, commercial and franchise assessment. Since Plainedge has little or no commercial property, the biggest portion of the school budget is funded through residential property taxes, or Class 1 taxpayers.

Richman pointed to a few figures to show that Plainedge’s fiscal history has been conservative. The percentage of increases from 1996 to 97 was 5.04 percent or 25th among the 53 school districts in Nassau County. In 1997-98, the percentage dropped to 1.98 and Plainedge ranked 47 among the 53 districts.

In 1998 and 1999, the district’s increase was 4.56 percent and 3.56 or 29th and 31st place respectively. This year’s increase would put Plainedge in 28th place.

In terms of per pupil expenditure, the district has ranked 44th and 42nd place for 1997 and 1998 at $8,031 and $8,328, respectively. Great Neck was the highest in 1997 at $13,585 and Elmont was the lowest at $6,299. In 1998, Jericho was the highest at $14,425 and Elmont the lowest with $6,329.

In terms of the tax rates, Plainedge also ranks at about the middle in the County. At $63.07 in 1998-99, it came in at 29th of the 53 districts. In 1999-2000, it ranked 31 with a rate of $65.32.

But tax rates in and of themselves don’t tell the entire story, said Richman. Due to the multi-class rating system and the inequities in the assessments throughout Nassau County it is more accurate to look at the total taxes paid, "or the bottom line," he said.

With the average annual school tax payment in Plainedge at $3,873 and the Nassau County average at $4,195, it is clear to see, he said, that the district has made efforts to keep control of spending, while at the same time providing a solid educational program for students.

"That is not to say that we don’t pay a lot of taxes," he added. "We do and that is just a reality for us living here in Nassau County."

The budget has an estimate for state aid at or slightly above last year’s figure, and an assessment rate at about $460,000 more than last year. If state aid or assessments come in higher, it would loosen up funds that could be applied to additional initiatives or to reduce the tax rate; lower state aid figures or assessments would result in less money for programs and services, or an increase in the tax rate.

The cost for the full-day kindergarten program, which includes the cost for the ten new teachers, is $588,000. Plainedge will receive a special one-time only startup payment from the state of $348,000, leaving the financial impact in next year’s budget for full day kindergarten at $240,000.

While the district has put funds into the construction of additional space for this program in its capital improvement project bond, these other funds are needed. Should the budget fail, said Richman, the district would not be able to open the program this year, an issue he has already discussed with parents of kindergarten children enrolled in the September 2001 school year.

The meeting will be held at 8 p.m., in the district’s school board room at the High School, Wyngate Drive, North Massapequa.